To avoid postoperative intraocular pressure peaks, complete removal of all
ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs) used during cataract surgery is imp
ortant. Depending on the kind of OVD used, different removal techniques hav
e been applied. We describe a technique that was used in more than 250 eyes
for safe removal of OVDs, especially viscoadaptive OVDs such as sodium hya
luronate 2.3% (Healon(R)5). It takes advantage of the viscoadaptive propert
ies of Healon5 and was named the 2-compartment technique. J Cataract Refrac
t Surg 2000, 26:641-643 (C) 2000 ASCRS and ESCRS.