PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED TRIAL COMPARING MICROVISC PLUS AND HEALON GV IN ROUTINE PHACOEMULSIFICATION

Purpose: To compare the safety and efficacy of two sodium hyaluronate viscoelastics-MicroVisc(C) Plus and Healon(R) GV-in routine phacoemuls ification and evaluate whether these more viscous and cohesive agents offer benefits compared to viscoelastics of standard viscosity and coh esion. Setting: York Finch Eye Associates and York Pinch General Hospi tal, Toronto, Canada. Methods: An unmasked, randomized, prospective cl inical trial of 100 eyes of 100 patients having routine phacoemulsific ation with intraocular lens implantation was conducted comparing the s afety and efficacy of MicroVisc Plus with those of Healon GV. Preopera tive and 6 hour, 1 and 5 days, and 1 and 6 month postoperative assessm ents included acuity, corneal thickness, intraocular pressure, and sur geon assessment of the task-facilitating efficacy of the viscoelastics , Results were compared with those of a similar trial of MicroVisc(R) and Healon(R). Results: There were no statistically significant differ ences between the two treatment groups at any follow-up. The surgeon j udged the two viscoelastics to be equivalent, although somewhat differ ent in facilitating surgery. There was significantly less transient po stoperative corneal thickening in the Healon GV/MicroVisc Plus group t han in the Healon/MicroVisc group. Conclusions: Healon GV and MicroVis c Plus were safe and provided equal outcomes based on the parameters a ssessed. MicroVise Plus' higher zero-shear viscosity caused it to beha ve slightly differently than Healon GV during surgery. More viscous, c ohesive viscoelastics may increase surgical safety.