The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Abbott's Healon EndoCoat ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD).
The Healon EndoCoat OVD is a clear, viscous, protective gel intended for use as a surgical aid in cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
The protective gel is injected into a patient's eye, by using a smaller surgical delivery device, to protect and coat the eye during surgery, reducing trauma to the inside layer of the cornea and other surrounding tissues.
Healon EndoCoat OVD can also be used in combination with any other Healon products such as Healon OVD, Healon GV OVD or Healon5 OVD.
University of California Gavin Herbert Eye Institute chair and director and Irving H.Leopold professor Roger Steinert said a dispersive OVD is desirable at the beginning of the cataract removal process to help protect the eye from nuclear particles and ultrasonic energy and acts as a protective barrier.
"It has outstanding clarity and does not require refrigeration, which reduces surgicenter storage costs and improves ease of use compared to a cold syringe," Steinert added.
