The effect of stromal hydration on surgical outcomes for cataract patients who received a hydrogel ocular bandage

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of stromal hydration on surgical outcomes for patients who received the new hydrogel ocular bandage (ReSure™ Adherent Ocular Bandage, Ocular Therapeutix, Inc, Bedford, MA, USA) following routine cataract surgery. METHODS This post-hoc, single-masked study was conducted with 310 patients who were scheduled to undergo unilateral clear corneal cataract surgery with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. Incisions were closed with stromal hydration (270 patients) or without stromal hydration (40 patients) based on physician standard of care. All patients received the hydrogel bandage at the conclusion of the procedure. Ocular assessments of stromal edema, flare, corneal staining, anterior chamber cells, best-corrected visual acuity, and intraocular pressure were made 24 hours after surgery. RESULTS Significantly more patients experienced stromal edema in the group with stromal hydration (26.3% versus 10.0%, respectively; P = 0.028). A higher percentage of patients experienced corneal staining when stromal hydration was performed (20.4% versus 2.5%; P = 0.004). The mean BCVA (best-corrected visual acuity) also was significantly different between the groups (logMAR of 0.164 with stromal hydration versus 0.095 without hydration; P = 0.007). No significant differences were observed between the study groups in terms of flare, anterior chamber cells, or intraocular pressure. CONCLUSION Cataract surgery without stromal hydration provided better surgical outcomes than the traditional hydration procedure when used in conjunction with a new hydrogel bandage.