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Viscoelastic solutions are used in most ophthalmic intraocular surgeries including cataract extraction, IOL insertion and removal, corneal surgery, glaucoma surgery, trauma surgery, posterior segment surgery, ocular plastic surgery and muscle surgery. Not every surgeon uses viscoelastic in every one of these procedures and the percentage of cases involving the use of viscoelastic varies with each procedure and by region of the world.
Cataract extraction and IOL (intraocular lens) implantation is the most common surgical procedure performed in the US and most other industrialized, affluent nations. More than 14.0 million cataracts were removed worldwide during 2003. Cataract surgical procedures are projected to grow significantly as a result of increases in population and aging demographics.
Sodium Hyaluronate
The most common viscoelastic solution used today is sodium hyaluronate (HA). HA is the natural biologic lubricating and shock absorbing molecule of the musculoskeletal system, and also of the eye. In the eye, HA is found in high concentrations in the aqueous humor and covering the endothelium.
HA is extracted from a number of biological sources, and cultures of streptococci. While the purified HA from each of these sources is similar in structure, the molecular weight varies and is a critical factor in the physical properties of the viscoelastic solution.
For more information, there are numerous websites to include:
www.who.int
(World Health Organization)
www.ascrs.org
(American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons)
www.aao.org
(American Academy of Ophthalmology)
www.ama-assn.org
(American Medical Association)
www.visionchannel.net/cataracts
As with all medical conditions, consult your physician for an examination and medical consultation.
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