Surgeons share their experience and their tips.
Gillian K. McDermott Associate Editor With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent approval of Healon5, many ophthalmologists are wondering how this viscoelastic differs from those already on the market, what benefits it may offer and how to use it effectively. This article attempts to answer those questions based on several surgeons' experience with the product so far. Healon5 has a higher concentration of sodium hyaluronate than do Healon and Healon GV and, therefore, a higher viscosity. This cohesive viscoelastic reportedly enables surgeons to perform well-controlled capsulorhexes and does an excellent job of compartmentalizing the eye. Dubbed viscoadaptive by its manufacturer, Pharmacia, Healon5 maintains space and its own shape within the eye, yet, like a dispersive viscoelastic, it can remain in the eye during phacoemulsification.