EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON VISCOFLUIDS FOR INTRAOCULAR SURGERY

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of using diluted viscofluids during intraocular surgery. Setting: Laboratory for Intrao cular Microsurgery and Implants, Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, and the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Hashomer, Israel. Methods: Dil uted hyaluronic acid (0.06 to 0.12%) in balanced salt solutions were i rrigated through the phacoemulsification machine or a separate irrigat ion line (i.e., anterior chamber maintainer). Irrigation was facilitat ed by increasing the atmospheric pressure in the bottle using compress ed air. Experimental surgery was done in rabbit eyes. Results: A visco us fluid could be irrigated at any practical rate by increasing the he ight of the bottle, increasing the atmospheric pressure within the bot tle, or both. Experimental surgeries showed that viscofluids maintaine d intraocular pressure and anterior chamber volume, allowed safe intra ocular manipulations, reduced turbulence in the anterior chamber, and probably provided tissue protection. Conclusion: Viscofluids irrigated using a high-pressure system combined the advantages of continuous ir rigation of fluids and the protective qualities of viscoelastics in th is rabbit eye study.