Balanced Salt Solution-Assisted Intraocular Lens Implantation in Phacoemulsification Surgery: Intraocular Pressure and Endothelial Cell Effects

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of balanced salt solution (BSS)-assisted intraocular lens (IOL) implantation on postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and endothelial cells and to compare BSS-assisted IOL implantation with the use of ophthalmic viscosurgical devices during IOL implantation. METHODS: A total of 52 eyes of 40 patients (25 female, 15 male) with a cataract who underwent phacoemulsification surgery with BSS-assisted (26 eyes) or viscoelastic-assisted IOL implantation (26 eyes) were evaluated. BSS-assisted IOL implantation was performed with the aid of irrigation cannula and BSS without using a viscoelastic substance. Viscoelastic-assisted IOL implantation was performed according to standard procedures to facilitate IOL implantation. IOP measurements and endothelial changes after phacoemulsification surgery, as well as the surgical time were noted and compared. The eyes were also evaluated in terms of cataract density preoperatively and phaco parameters were assessed peroperatively. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 67.5±7.8 years in the BSS-assisted group and 67.8±9.4 years in the viscoelastic group. The mean preoperative IOP and postoperative IOP on day 1, week 1, and month 1 was 14.2±2.3, 14.7±3.1, 13.2±1.5, and 13.8±2.7 mmHg, respectively, for the BSS-assisted group and 14.1±2.9, 19.1±3.4, 13.8±3.1, and 13.2±2.9 mmHg, respectively, for the viscoelastic-assisted IOL implantation group. The IOP increase was significantly greater on the first day in the viscoelastic-assisted IOL implantation group (p=0.007). The surgical time was 12.3±2.1 minutes in the BSS group and 14.6±3.1 minutes in the viscoelastic group (p=0.035). The difference in endothelial changes was not statistically significant between groups (p=0.88). CONCLUSION: IOL implantation using BSS in phacoemulsification surgery is a reliable technique, and this method has a significantly shorter surgery time and a much smaller postoperative IOP increase. The reduced IOP increase after cataract surgery might be particularly helpful for glaucoma patients.