Oxidative tissue damage after phacoemulsification: Influence of ophthalmic viscosurgical devices

Purpose: To quantify the oxidative tissue damage after phacoemulsification, correlate the damage to the energy applied, and investigate the influence of ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs). Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany. Methods: The study comprised 130 eyes operated on by 1 surgeon using the same phacoemulsification machine. Some eyes received an OVD before phacoemulsification and some did not. Energy values were expressed as phaco time; that is, ultrasound (US) time (seconds) after conversion to 100% phaco power. Patients were grouped as follows: Group 1, phaco time less than 20 seconds and no OVD; Group 2, phaco time 20 to 40 seconds and no OVD; Group 3, phaco time more than 40 seconds and no OVD; Group 4, phaco time 20 to 40 seconds and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 2% (HPMC); Group 5, phaco time 20 to 40 seconds and sodium hyaluronate 1%. Aqueous humor from pseudophakic eyes served as a control. At the end of surgery, anterior chamber fluid was analyzed for lipid peroxides using the thiobarbituric acid method. Results: Lipid peroxides were detected in all groups. The values were significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (P<.01) and in Group 3 than in Groups 1 and 2 (P<.01). The differences in lipid peroxide values between all phaco groups and the control group were statistically significant. Sodium hyaluronate 1% and HPMC 2% produced significantly lower lipid peroxide values than in the respective phaco groups that did not receive an OVD (both P<.01). Conclusions: Oxidative tissue damage occurred during phacoemulsification. The damage, which correlated with the US energy applied, can be reduced by the use of OVDs.