DisCoVisc versus the soft-shell technique using Viscoat and Provisc in phacoemulsification: Randomized clinical trial

Abstract

To compare the effects and outcomes of DisCoVisc (hyaluronic acid 1.6%-chondroitin sulfate 4.0%) with those of the soft-shell technique using Viscoat (sodium hyaluronate 3.0%-chondroitin sulfate 4.0%) and Provisc (sodium hyaluronate 1.0%) in phacoemulsification. Iladevi Cataract & IOL Research Centre, Ahmedabad, India. This prospective randomized clinical trial comprised 100 eyes having phacoemulsification by the same surgeon using a standardized technique. Eyes were randomly assigned to DisCoVisc (Group 1) or Viscoat and Provisc (Group 2). Preoperative and postoperative examinations included absolute change in pachymetry, percentage difference in endothelial cell density (ECD) and coefficient of variation (CV), and anterior segment inflammation. The mean postoperative central corneal thickness (CCT) in Group 1 and Group 2 was 590.96+/-46.05 microm and 586.94+/-50.57 microm, respectively, at 1 day; 554.14+/-35.45 microm and 551.65+/-37.69 microm, respectively, at 7 days; and 533.74+/-29.12 microm and 536.44+/-35.59 microm, respectively, at 1 month. The between-group differences in CCT were not statistically significant. At 3 months, the mean ECD was 2427.06+/-243.26 cells/mm2 and 2475.30+/-222.83 cells/mm2, respectively, and the mean CV, 42.38+/-7.94 cells/mm2 and 41.66+/-7.71 cells/mm2, respectively. There was no significant difference in the mean ECD between preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively or in corneal thickness between preoperatively and 1, 7, and 30 days postoperatively. A single injection of DisCoVisc was effective, and its postoperative outcomes were comparable to those of combined Viscoat and Provisc.