Sodium hyaluronate (Healon) in the surgical repair of Descemet's membrane detachment.

Two cases of Descemet's membrane detachment are presented. In both cases, sodium hyaluronate (Healon) was successfully used to repair the detachment surgically. The viscoelastic property of sodium hyaluronate allows it to move Descemet's membrane easily into proper position and maintain it there post-operatively. Sodium hyaluronate left in the anterior chamber can cause an increase in intraocular pressure and prophylactic measures, such as diamox and timoptic should be used in these cases.