Effects of Hydrogen in Prevention of Corneal Endothelial Damage During Phacoemulsification: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial

Hiroshi Takahashi, Hisaharu Suzuki, Ikuroh Ohsawa, Maika Kobayashi, Takeshi Arima, Toru Igarashi, Toshiaki Otsuka, Tsutomu Igarashi, Yusuke Umemoto

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DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2019.04.014 DOI is the universal ID for this study.

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Abstract:

Purpose: Hydrogen (H2) has been reported to scavenge free radicals, particularly the hydroxyl radical (·OH). Ultrasound oscillation in an aqueous solution produces ·OH. Our recent study demonstrated that H2 dissolved in an irrigation solution prevented corneal endothelial damage during phacoemulsification in an animal model. We examined the effects of H2 during clinical phacoemulsification. Design: A single-center, prospective, randomized, double-masked clinical trial.

Methods: Thirty-two patients who had cataracts of similar nucleus hardness in both eyes (age: 75.4±7.68 years; 17 males, 15 females) were recruited. Phacoemulsification was performed using a solution of dissolved H2 in one eye, and a conventional solution in the contralateral eye. Endothelial cell density (ECD) at the center of the cornea was measured using noncontact specular microscopy preoperatively and at 1 day, 1 week, and 3 weeks postoperatively.

Results: Reduction rates of ECD (mean ± standard deviation) were 16.0%±15.7% at 1 day, 15.4%±16.1% at 1 week, and 18.4%±14.9% at 3 weeks in the control group, compared to 6.5%±8.7% at 1 day (P = .003), 9.3%±11.0% at 1 week (P = .039), and 8.5%±10.5% at 3 weeks (P = .004) in the H2 groups. These rates were significantly smaller in the H2 group at all time points. Conclusions: H2 dissolved in irrigation solution reduced corneal endothelial damage during phacoemulsification. This suggests that a considerable part of the corneal endothelial damage during phacoemulsification is caused by oxidative stress, and that H2 is useful in clinical phacoemulsification.


Publish Year 2019
Country Japan
Rank Positive
Journal American Journal of Ophthalmology
Primary Topic Eye
Secondary TopicSurgery/Transplantation
Model Human
Tertiary TopicSurgical Injury
Vehicle Saline (Dissolved)
pH Neutral
Application Irrigation
Comparison
Complement