Comparison between viscoelastic devices and balanced saline in intraocular lens implantation

Abstract

Objective: To compare surgical outcomes between patients on whom ophthalmic viscoelastic devices or balanced saline solution was used to maintain the anterior chamber during intraocular lens implantation after phacoemulsification.
Methods: A retrospective case-control clinical trial was performed with the participation of 20 patients whose anterior chambers were maintained with viscoelastics (Group A) and 26 patients (Group B) on whom balanced saline solution was used for this purpose. Preoperative features of the population, as well as surgical aspects (percentage and time of phacoemulsification, surgical time and ease of intraocular lens implantation), were evaluated. Postoperative measurements made were: central pachymetry, intraocular pressure and anterior segment biomicroscopy 24 hours, one week and one month postoperatively. In addition, spherical equivalent, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), myopic refractive change and posterior capsule opacity one month after surgery were obtained. Results were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test for quantitative variables and for the statistical significance of quantitative variables, the Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test was used (significance p < 0.05).
Results: The surgical time was lower in Group B (p = 0.003). One month after surgery patients of group A had a median BCBA of 0.19 LogMAR while in those of group B it was 0.10 LogMAR (p = 0.296). None of the patients had postoperative ocular hypertension.
Conclusion: The surgical time lowered with hydroimplantation, and both techniques were safe for the patient’s visual health.