The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of the rheological properties and adhesive force of ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs) as parameters for understanding and identifying the surgical behavior of cohesive and dispersive OVDs. The apparent viscosity, and the storage and loss moduli (dynamic rheological parameters) of 50% chondroitin sulfate (CS), 3% sodium hyaluronate (HA), Shellgan (the combination of 3% HA and 4% CS), Opegan (1% HA with a low molecular mass) and Opegan-Hi (1% HA with a high molecular mass) were obtained with a rheometer. The adhesive force of each sample was measured by using a texture analyzer. Opegan-Hi showed a solid-like behavior, while 50% CS showed a fluid-like behavior from their apparent viscosity and dynamic rheological parameters. Shellgan, 3% HA, and Opegan exhibited similar rheological properties and intermediate characteristics between Opegan-Hi and 50% CS, although their respective values were slightly different. Among these OVD samples, the adhesive force was higher in the order of 50% CS > Shellgan, 3% HA > Opegan > Opegan-Hi. The adhesive force of dispersive OVDs tended to be higher than that of cohesive OVDs, which correlated well with the removal times of OVDs from the eye that have previously been reported. In conclusion, we demonstrated that cohesive OVDs and dispersive OVDs have particular rheological and adhesive properties that can be applied to identify both types. These parameters obtained in this study provide useful information for a greater understanding and prediction of the behavior of OVDs in the eye during surgery.
Keywords: adhesive force; cataract surgery; chondroitin sulfate; ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD); rheological parameter; sodium hyaluronate.