Use of Capsulorhexis and Healon 5 in Children Younger Than 5 Years of Age

Abstract

T r i his short report details the success of manual coninuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) in young hildren when the technique is supported by the use of ealon 5 (Advanced Medical Optics, Santa Ana, CA). lthough manual CCC routinely is performed in dults and older children undergoing cataract surgery, t is harder to perform in young children. Tearing the apsule is harder to control on account of the inreased elasticity of the juvenile lens capsule and also ecause of increased positive pressure from the vitreus as a result of reduced scleral rigidity. This problem as led to the development of alternative manual and echanised capsulotomy methods. Although the echanized methods are easier to perform, manual CC has remained the gold standard against which to ompare the effectiveness of any new capsulotomy echnique. High molecular weight viscoelastics are hought to assist the control of the manual CCC by esisting positive vitreous pressure and flattening the nterior capsule. Healon 5 is associated with a higher hance of completing manual continuous curvilinear apsulorhexis in children compared with lower viscosty viscoelastics. Our case series supports this finding ut in a much younger age group of patients.