Viscoelastics Medical Device or Drug

If one alleges that the main function of viscoelastics is to protect the endothelium, this would only then describe the above stated definition if the effect were achieved through metabolism. This is not the case even when considering endothelial protection through viscoelastics from the aspect of electrolyte-metabolism, if one considers electrolyte metabolism of endothelial cells to be included in the broader sense of metabolism. 

Coatability of the endothelium is only an advantage as long as the OVD has no toxic effects or produces no drag force injuries during aspiration to the endothelium. 

When asked about the preferred OVD indication profile, almost 70 % of all US colleagues chose to have a viscoelastic substance for all cases (Learning, 1998). 

Unfortunately, no OVD can fulfill all desired properties at once. The choice of substance should fulfill the operation profile requirement, with less emphasis on the price, and take into account known complications with consideration to the desired physicochemical properties. Arshinoff s grouping of viscoelastics into 2 categories based on company information was modified according to the study results at hand and the wide spectrum of viscoelastic characteristics. 

Uniform specifications with regard to chemical, toxic, rheologic and clinical properties by the manufacturers and distributors would be desirable. 

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