Surgeon advocates combined dispersive-cohesive viscoelastic for cataract surgery

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A viscoelastic material that combines the qualities of cohesive and dispersive viscoelastics has “just the right balance” of each for cataract surgery, according a surgeon speaking here.

Abhay Vasavada, MS, FRCS, said DisCoVisc (chondroitin sulfate, sodium hyaluronate, Alcon) is cohesive enough during cataract surgery to maintain the anterior chamber depth and to remove easily after IOL insertion, and dispersive enough to protect intraocular structures. He spoke at the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.

Dr. Vasavada subjectively evaluated the viscoelastic during capsulorrhexis, phacoemulsification, IOL insertion and when removing the viscoelastic from the anterior chamber. He said DisCoVisc is superior in all aspects of surgery compared to Viscoat (chondroitin sulfate, sodium hyaluronate, Alcon).

“DisCoVisc retains all positive aspects of both cohesive and dispersive viscoelastics. It’s an excellent space maintainer, it’s easy to remove and it’s both cohesive and dispersive,” Dr. Vasavada said.

Occlusion with DisCoVisc does not occur, so surgeons do not have to remove the viscoelastic before performing phaco, he added. Because of the product’s dispersive quality, Dr. Vasavada said he finds no need to aspirate behind the IOL to remove it.

”DisCoVisc is an alternative to separate use of [Alcon’s] Provisc (sodium hyaluronate) and Viscoat, which I’ve always enjoyed,” Dr. Vasavada said. “You don’t need to use separate viscoelastics to get both properties. It is the first viscoelastic optimized for cataract surgery.”