Effect of the intraoperative use of a polymeric blend on corneal epithelium and ocular comfort in cataract surgery

Session Details

Session Title: Cataract Surgery Equipment/Instrumentation/Surgical Devices/OVDs

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 10/10/2017 | 16:00-17:00

Paper Time: 16:44

Venue: Room 4.1

First Author: : M.Cennamo ITALY

Co Author(s): :    L. Finocchio   E. Favuzza   R. Mencucci              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To investigate the safety and efficacy of intraoperative use of a polymeric system composed of hydroxypropylcellulose and carrageenan blend during cataract surgery on corneal epithelial cell and its effect on postoperative ocular comfort

Setting:

Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Eye Clinic, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

Methods:

This prospective randomized controlled study included 50 eyes of 50 patients who underwent cataract surgery. 25 patients received single application of polysaccharide blend on corneal surface at the beginning of surgery (study group); in the other 25 eyes intraoperative balanced salt solution (BSS) irrigation was performed (control group). Before surgery and 1,3,7,14, 30 postoperative days central corneal thickness (CCT) and central corneal epithelial thickness were measured by spectral domain Optical Coherence Tomography (Optovue, CAM-L, RTVue-100); corneal basal epithelial cell and Langherans cell density were evaluated by in vivo confocal corneal microscopy (HRT III/RCM, Heidelberg);ocular surface disease index(OSDI) questionnaire was administered.

Results:

In each group the mean CCT and epithelial thickness were significantly increased 1 day postoperatively. In the control group between 3 and 14 postoperative days CCT was significantly (p<0.05) higher than baseline, whereas the epithelial thickness decreased returning to preoperative values only 1 month after surgery; in the study group both parameters returned to baseline values in three days. Between 3 and 14 postoperative days the corneal basal epithelial cell and Langherans cell density increased in both groups (p<0.05 only in the control group). At 7 days the OSDI score was significantly lower in the study group compared with controls.

Conclusions:

The intraoperative use of hydroxypropylcellulose and carrageenan blend improves postoperative corneal inflammation due to intraoperative injury. The reduced corneal remodeling seems to be associated to improved ocular comfort and less dry-eye disease symptoms

Financial Disclosure:

NONE