A Prospective Randomized Double-Masked Clinical Comparison of Hartmann's Solution and Balanced Salt Solution in Phakoemulsification

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We wished to know the effect of two different intraocular irrigation fluids (Balanced Salt Solutioned (BSS) and Hartmann's Solution (HS)) on peroperative corneal transparency during phakoemulsification. STUDY DESIGN: This was a double-masked, randomized prospective trial of volunteer patients using an ethical-committee agreed protocol. SETTINGS: The study was undertaken in a teaching hospital cataract serice. PATIENTS: All patients had cataract and clinically normal corneas. Eighty-seven patients received BSS and 92 received HS. There was no statistically significant difference in age, sex or laterality between the two groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We observed any loss of corneal transparency peroperatively. If this occurred, it was graded mild, moderate or severe. RESULTS: Moderate or severe corneal opacification was never seen in patients receiving BSS but occurred in 26 patients who received HS ( P < 0.00009). CONCLUSIONS: BSS is a much safer intraocular irrigation fluid for phakoemulsification in that it allows superior visualization by virtue of not causing loss of corneal transparency.