Physician experience using Healon5® in phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens implantation

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To evaluate the experience of Healon5^® in phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens implantation surgery. Methods: A prospective, multicenter, case series design in consecutive patients. A survey detailing experience with Healon5^® was completed after surgery and analyzed. Results: 10 physicians noted in 293 patients that Healon5^® maintained the anterior chamber (AC) during capsulorrhexis "very well" in 250 cases; improved a suboptimally dilated pupil in 44 cases by 1–3 mm; had "very good" to "good" ability in 222 cases to remain in the AC during phacoemulsification; and maintained the AC and lens capsular bag "very well" in 251 cases during lens implantation (which was noted as "very easy" in 238 cases). Control with unfolding of the lens was indicated as optimal in 262 cases. The ability to remove Healon5^® from the AC was noted as "very good" to "good" in 258 cases. Physicians rated Healon5^® as "better" or "equal than" the previous viscoelastic in 285 patients and rated its transparency as "very good" to "good" in 247 patients. At the Day 1 postoperative visit the uncorrected visual acuity (VA) was 20/40 or better in 214 cases. Conclusions: During phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens implantation, Healon5^® is associated generally with "very good" to "good" surgical visualization, early uncorrected VA, performance of procedures typically facilitated by viscoelastics, and maintaining surgical spaces while easily removed. Further, when a suboptimally dilated pupil exists the dilation provided by Healon5^® improves visualization.

Keywords: cataract • anterior chamber • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials