The endothelial cells, the corneal thickness, and the intraocular pressure (IOP) were evaluated in dogs with cataract, using viscoelastic substances based on 3% sodium hyaluronate and 4% chondroitin sulfate and comparing them with 2% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. Twenty dogs were distributed in two groups of ten, each using one viscoelastic material. The surgical technique was bimanual phacoemulsification. The tonometric evaluations were made before and at one, seven, 14, 21, 28, and 60 days after the surgery and the specular microscopy before and after seven, 28, and 60 days. No statistical difference between groups was found according to IOP, except at 14 days, which was significantly higher with the use of 3% sodium hyaluronate and 4% chondroitin sulfate. There was no statistical difference between the groups considering the parameters related to the endothelium, with slight decrease in endothelial cell density and increase of cell area with the use of 2% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. The use of both viscoelastic devices is recommended for the phacoemulsification in dogs.
dog; cataract; phacoemulsification; viscoelastic substances
