CLINICAL COMPARISON OF PROVISC AND HEALON IN CATARACT-SURGERY

This prospective, randomized, multicenter clinical trial compared the safety and efficacy of the Provisc(R) and Healon(R) viscoelastics. Six ty-one eyes of 61 patients had an extracapsular cataract extraction wi th implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens with the aid o f Provisc (n = 32) or Healon (n = 29). Mean changes in preoperative ve rsus postoperative corneal thickness and intraocular pressure and the incidence and magnitude of postoperative corneal edema and iritis were not significantly different between the two groups. Observed complica tions were considered consequences of the surgery and unrelated to vis coelastic use. No adverse medical events occurred. These results indic ate Provisc and Healon ave clinically equivalent in terms of safety an d efficacy when used as surgical aids.