Effects of phacoemulsification with versus without viscoelastic devices on surgical outcomes

The aim of this study is to report surgical outcomes in patients undergoing phacoemulsification surgery (PE) with versus without ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs).

This is a comparative case series study. In total, 145 patients who performed PE with OVDs in 68 eyes (Group 1) and without OVD in 77 eyes (Group 2) were enrolled. A comprehensive ophthalmological examination was performed including slit-lamp, fundus examination. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP) specular endothelial microscopy (SM), and ultrasound pachymetry (UP) were also measured before surgery and at four-time points postoperatively. The differences in baseline characteristics as well as in outcomes were compared between the two groups.

The mean BCVA was 0.41 ± 0.26 logMAR in Group 1 and 0.54 ± 0.34 in Group 2 at postoperative first day, with a significant difference (p < 0.01). The mean BCVA, IOP, and UP at 6 months did not differ between the groups. The mean baseline and postoperative SMs were 2063 and 1910 cells/mm², respectively, and the endothelial cell loss (ECL) was 153.89 ± 189 in Group 1. The mean baseline and postoperative SMs were 2153 and 1948 cells/mm², respectively, and the ECL was 205 ± 200 in Group 2. The difference between the groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.105).

The ECL seemed to be higher in the Group 2, but the difference was not significant. The final clinical outcomes were similar between the groups. In selected cases, PE without OVD may be preferable to reduce the cost of surgery in places with low economic status and to prevent side-effects of these devices.