Postoperative intraocular pressure rises: a comparison of Healon, Amvisc, and Viscoat.

A prospective randomized study was performed involving 200 patients divided into four groups: (1) Healon aspirated, (2) Amvisc aspirated, (3) Viscoat aspirated, and (4) Viscoat not aspirated. Postoperative intraocular pressures were measured at 4, 8, and 24 hours, two to three days, and one month. Significant differences between the groups were noted at four and eight hours; however, by 24 hours there were no significant differences. There were also no significant differences at two to three days and one month postoperatively. In this study, the Viscoat-not-aspirated group had the highest intraocular pressures followed, in decreasing order, by the Viscoat aspirated group, the Amvisc aspirated group, and the Healon aspirated group. From this study, I have concluded that Viscoat should be aspirated at the end of surgery to avoid postoperative intraocular pressure rises. Healon appears to be associated with lower intraocular pressures than the other two agents at four and eight hours postoperatively.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes