Anterior chamber maintainer versus viscoelastic material for intraocular lens implantation: Case-control study

Purpose: To compare best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and intraocular pre ssure (IOP) in eyes that had a foldable intraocular lens (IOL) implanted wi th the use of an anterior chamber maintainer (ACM) in 1 eye and hyaluronate 3.0% (Vitrax (R)) viscoelastic material in the other eye. Setting: Private practice in a large urban center. Methods: Sixty-six eyes of 33 patients had consecutive bilateral cataract e xtraction by the same surgeon using an identical temporal approach, clear c orneal phacoemulsification, acid implantation of an Allergan SI-40NB or SA- 40NB IOL through an injection delivery system. The first operative eye was arbitrarily assigned to the ACM or Vitrax group. while the fellow eye recei ved the opposite technique. Patients with coexisting ocular pathology that could influence the measured outcomes (eg, glaucoma, age-related macular de generation) were excluded. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and 1 day and 3 to 6 weeks postoperatively. Results: No serious intraoperative or postoperative complications were repo rted. The only statistical difference in BCVA or IOP was on the first posto perative day, when the mean IOP was approximately 2 mm Hg lower in the ACM group than in the Vitrax group. Conclusion: The use of an ACM for implantation of an injected 3-piece silic one IOL may lower IOP on the first postoperative day.