USE OF COLLAGEN SHIELDS IN CATARACT-SURGERY

A randomized, prospective, multicenter study evaluated the efficacy an d safety of using collagen shields to deliver drugs after cataract sur gery. Collagen shields saturated with an antibiotic and a steroid were placed in 90 eyes postoperatively. A control group of 93 eyes receive d the same drugs through a peribulbar/retrobulbar injection. One day a fter surgery, the shield group had significantly less corneal edema, c onjunctival hemorrhaging, and postoperative pain and fewer corneal opa cities. All symptoms except the conjunctival hemorrhaging disappeared by day seven. Our study suggests that using collagen shields for drug delivery after cataract surgery decreases tissue damage and increases patient comfort without adverse side effects.