The use of new cohesive ophthalmic viscoelastic in cataract surgery

The article presents the results of an original study which was dedicated to the investigation of the new cohesive viscoelastic Cogevisc (sodium hyaluronate 1.6%) in ophthalmic surgery.

Aim. Analysis of the efficacy and safety of a new cohesive viscoelastic (Cogevisc, Solopharm) in phacoemulsification.

Patients and Methods. The clinical study was based on an assessment of the clinical and functional state of 80 patients (80 eyes), which were divided into 2 groups depending on viscoelastic used during the phacoemulsification procedure (Softshell technology): in group I (40 patients, 40 eyes) Viscoat was used to protect tissues, and Amvisc Plus was added to create volume; in group II (40 patients, 40 eyes) Viscoat was used to protect tissues, and Kogevisc was used to create volume. In the postoperative period, all patients received standard anti-inflammatory treatment. There was no significant difference in mean age, gender, preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and preoperative central corneal thickness (CCT) between the two groups. Before surgery and in the postoperative period (in one day, 7 days, and 1 month), IOP, CCT, and endothelial cell density (ECD) were measured. The duration of the procedure and the amount of the consumed fluid were estimated.

Results. There was no significant difference in IOP, CCT, ECD 1 day and 1 week postoperatively between the two groups. Mean absolute refractive error was also not significantly different between the two groups. There was no significant difference in procedure duration between groups I and II (1523.81 ± 75.66 seconds, 1500.33 ± 92.56 seconds, respectively, p < 0.001). No complications were observed during the intraocular lens implantation in both groups.

Conclusion. The investigated viscoelastic Cogevisc allows creating and effectively maintaining the necessary depth of the anterior chamber and the maximum diameter of the pupil, which simplifies different stages of phacoemulsification and minimizes the risk of intraoperative complications. Promising for further research is its use in combination with an adhesive viscoelastic of the same production. Reduced cost of Cogevisc is the advantage of this viscoelastic.