Prospective comparison of the effects of Occucoat, Viscoat, and Healon on intraocular pressure and endothelial cell loss.

We compared the effect of Occucoat (2% hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose), Viscoat (sodium hyaluronate-chondroitin sulfate), and Healon (sodium hyaluronate) on postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and endothelial cell damage. One hundred fourteen patients having planned extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber lens implantation using a viscomaterial were prospectively randomized into one of five groups. Group I received Occucoat which was removed from the anterior chamber at the conclusion of surgery. Group II received Occucoat which was not removed (retained). Group III received Viscoat which was removed, Group IV received Viscoat which was retained, and Group V received Healon which was removed. No prophylactic ocular hypotensive medications were given. Intraocular pressure was measured at four hours, 24 hours, one week, one month, three months, and one year postoperatively. Compared to preoperative IOP, all groups had a significant IOP increase at four hours. All but the Viscoat removed group (Group III) showed a statistically significant increase at 24 hours postoperatively (P less than .05). No group had a significant increase at one week or later. Specular microscopy showed no significant difference in cell loss between any of the groups at three months or within each group when compared to preoperative cell counts (P greater than .1).