COUPLING AGENTS

Objectives: To find out the uses of commercially available clear lubricant eye gel as coupling agent and compare it with 2.5 %methylcellulose in various procedures as 1. In Goldmann triple mirror for gonioscopy 2. In Abraham lens for Nd-YAG laser capsulotomy andiridotomy 3. In Area centralis lens for Grid laser photocoagulation 4. In Wide field lens for scatter or panretinal photocoagulation. S t u dyDesigmProspective Comparative Study. Setting: Diagnostic and research Department of Ophthalmology, Allied Hospital, PMC, Faisalabad.Period:From 1s t July 2008 to 31s t December 2008.Material a n d Patients:Eighty patients, divided into two groups as each group having fortypatients (40 eyes). One drop of topical anesthetic "Alcaine" proparacain hydrochloride was instilled twice in the eye, 5 minutes before startingthe procedure. We used hydroxyprophyl methylcellulose 0.3 % gel in the half of the patients eyes and used traditionally formulatedhydroxypropyl methylcellulose 2.5% in the other half of the patients eyes and the findings were compared with each other. R e s u l t s : 2.5 %methylcellulose was used in 40 eyes during Gonioscopy, Yag-laser iridotomy, Yag-laser capsulotomy and photocoagulation and was comparedwith 0.3 % hydroxypropyl methylcellulose gel in the same procedures in 40 other eyes. Post procedures clarity of view, comfort, irrigation ofsolution remants, redness and stinging sensation were compared with the both coupling agents. The 0.3% gel showed good results.