Use of hyaluronate sodium v air in extracapsular cataract extraction.

A total of 17 patients underwent extracapsular cataract extraction with artificial lens implantation by one surgeon. Eight were given hyaluronate sodium (Healon) during the procedure, while nine received only air. Corneal thickness and endothelial cell counts were obtained one day prior to surgery and 90 days postoperatively. There were mean cell losses of 10.5% and 11.2% in the Healon and air groups, respectively. This is a mean difference of 0.7%, which is not significant statistically. Therefore, despite several studies that demonstrate the protective value of hyaluronate sodium on the corneal endothelium during anterior segment surgery, this study showed no such difference in the protective effects between the two.