Ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVD) are materials injected in intraocular space during cataract removal to reduce trauma in the patient's eye. Three Brazilian commercially available OVDs (Medilon®, Metilcelulose® and Ofthyal®) were evaluated as well as formulations based on Dimorphandra gardneriana galactomannan. Viscosity and viscoelastic parameters, such as viscosity at zero shear, pseudoplasticity index, elastic and viscous moduli, relaxation time, were determined and compared. Characteristics of an effective OVD were proposed. None of the Brazilian devices studied fulfill the rheological requirements. Only the galactomannan at 3% concentration showed potential to be used as effective OVD.
fava danta rheology; ophthalmic viscosurgical device; cataract
