Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2026
Development of a Noninvasive, Laser-Assisted Experimental Model of Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss
Published on: April 24, 2020
Protective effect of different ophthalmic viscosurgical devices on corneal endothelial cells during
Shmuel Ben-Eliahu1, Kfir Tal, Asher Milstein
1Ophthalmology Department, KaplanMedical Center, Rehovot, Israel.
Purpose:
To evaluate the protective effect of different ophthalmic viscosurgical devices on corneal endothelial cells during phacoemulsification in a rabbit model.
Setting:
Harlan Biotech Israel and Ophthalmology Department, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel.
Design:
Experimental study.
Methods:
Rabbit eyes were randomly assigned to 3 equally sized groups. Endothelial cell counts were performed in all eyes before initiation of the study. The aqueous humor was completely replaced by Biolon (sodium hyaluronate 1.0%) in Group A, by a combination of Viscoat (sodium chondroitin sulfate 4.0%-sodium hyaluronate 3.0%) and Provisc (sodium chondroitin sulfate 1.0%) using the soft-shell technique in Group B, and by a combination of Visiol (sodium hyaluronate 2.0%-mannitol 0.5%) and Biolon using the soft-shell technique in Group C. The eyes were exposed to alternating 10 seconds of phacoemulsification and a 10-second pause until a total exposure time of 2.5 minutes elapsed. Endothelial cell counts were repeated 3 days after surgery.
Results:
The study used 18 rabbit eyes, 6 in each group. Group A had the highest endothelial cell loss (13%) followed by Group B (7%), and Group C (4%). The difference in cell loss between Group C and Group A was statistically significant (P = .037).
Conclusion:
The study showed the efficiency and advantages of the soft-shell technique using the combination of Visiol and Biolon over Biolon alone.
