6533b854fe1ef96bd12ade74

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Removal of Viscoelastic Substances

subject

description

All viscoelastics should be completely removed from the eye to reduce the likelihood of increased intraocular pressure. Should OVD retention behind the IOL occur, an unstable refraction could result. Residual high molecular viscous substance is transported away through the trabecular meshwork, with delay, possibly resulting in a protracted postoperative IOP increase. To aspirate viscoelastics various techniques as well as instruments with different aspiration/irrigation adjustments have been proposed, a few of which will be described here. Viscoelastic removal involving the simultaneous irrigation and aspiration through a single cannula (Nevyas, 1987) or two separate cannulas (Brauweiler, 1996) is considered to be less traumatic for the corneal endothelium due to the reduced possibility of cameral collapse than earlier methods (involving initial aspiration of the anterior chamber with subsequent chamber reshaping).