Changes in corneal endothelium cell characteristics after cataract surgery with and without use of viscoelastic substances during intraocular lens implantation.

Purpose: To evaluate whether the use of balanced salt solution (BSS) or an ophthalmic viscoelastic device (OVD) during hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) implantation variously impacts corneal endothelial cell characteristics in eyes undergoing uneventful phacoemulsifications.

Methods: Prospective nonrandomized observational clinical trial. Patients were assigned either to the BSS plus(®) or to the OVD Z-Celcoat™ group depending on the substance used during IOL implantation.

Autologous serum for the treatment of corneal epithelial abrasions in diabetic patients undergoing vitrectomy.

Purpose: To compare the effect of autologous serum versus hyaluronic acid for the treatment of epithelial corneal lesions in patients such as diabetics with reduced wound healing.

Design: Prospective, randomized, masked clinical trial.

Methods: Diabetic patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy mostly combined with cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation who received corneal abrasion for better intraoperative visualization were included in this study.

Tissue plasminogen activator plus gas injection in patients with subretinal hemorrhage caused by age-related macular degeneration: predictive variables for visual outcome.

Purpose: To assess factors predicting final visual outcome after displacement of subretinal hemorrhage (SRH) by intravitreally injected tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) and gas in patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).

Methods: We evaluated retrospectively the records of 67 patients (32 men, 35 women, mean age 77.2 years) suffering from SRH caused by ARMD who underwent TPA and gas injection between April 1996 and October 2000.