Intraocular pressure and endothelium cell counts after cataract surgery with chitosan and sodium hyaluronate (Healon GV): 3-Year follow-up results of a randomised clinical trial

• Published in: Advances in therapy Vol. 25; no. 5; pp. 422 - 429
• Main Authors: Li, You, Cheng, Jin-Wei, Wei, Rui-Li, Hou, Chun-Lin, Wang, Wen-Bin, Gu, Qi-Sheng, Cai, Ji-Ping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer Healthcare Communications 01.05.2008
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiology; Cell Count; Chitosan - administration & dosage; Chitosan - pharmacology; Double-Blind Method; Endocrinology; Endothelium, Corneal - drug effects; Endothelium, Corneal - pathology; Female; Health technology assessment; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid - administration & dosage; Hyaluronic Acid - pharmacology; Internal Medicine; Intraocular Pressure - drug effects; Lens Implantation, Intraocular; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Oncology; Original Research; Phacoemulsification; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Rheumatology; Tonometry, Ocular; Viscoelastic Substances - administration & dosage; Viscoelastic Substances - pharmacology; chitosan; sodium hyaluronate; cataract surgery; viscoelastic substances; phacoemulsification
• ISSN: 0741-238X; 1865-8652
• DOI: 10.1007/s12325-008-0059-1

Introduction The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of chitosan 0.1% and sodium hyaluronate 1.4% (Healon GV®; Advanced Medical Optics, Santa Ana, CA, USA) on intraocular pressure (IOP) and endothelial cell loss. Methods This randomised study comprised 140 eyes of 140 patients with age-related cataracts undergoing phacoemulsification followed by posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation; 70 received chitosan 0.1%, and 70 received sodium hyaluronate 1.4%. The IOP was measured with standard Goldman applanation tonometry pre-operatively and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 1 year and 3 years postoperatively. Endothelial cell counts were performed pre-operatively and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 1 year and 3 years postoperatively using a Pro/Koester WFSCM contact endothelial microscope. Results There were no significant differences found in postoperative IOP levels among the chitosan and sodium hyaluronate groups ( P >0.05). No significant differences were found in postoperative mean endothelial cell counts at all time points between the chitosan and sodium hyaluronate groups ( P >0.05). Conclusion Chitosan has the same effects as sodium hyaluronate on IOP and endothelium cells counts after cataract surgery and IOL implantation, and therefore may be an alternative ophthalmic viscoelastic device.