Sodium hyaluronate in perspective: experiences from a four-year clinical trial.

Analysis of the safety from the use of 1 per cent sodium hyaluronate (Healonid) is presented in terms of postoperative ocular hypertension, uveitis, visual acuity and endothelial cell loss. The results of a four-year clinical trial confirm that this product is safe and effective. There was no significant difference in the short term visual results from its use, however on assessment of comparative endothelial cell studies, it was found that incidences of severe cell loss tend to be excluded by the use of Healonid so improving the surgeons confidence in difficult surgical situations.