Safety and efficacy of 2% methylcellulose in cat and monkey cataract-implant surgery.

We evaluated the safety and efficacy of 2% methycellulose as an adjunct for cataract extraction with implantation in cat and monkey models. When used intraoperatively, methylcellulose reduced the iridovitreal bulge during surgery. No significant increase in clinical inflammation occurred nor was there statistically significant intraocular pressure elevation at 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days. In the cat model, the central corneal thickness increased at day seven in both control and methylcellulose eyes; this thickness persisted to 90 days. The endothelial cell loss decreased significantly at day 90 in methylcellulose eyes. In the monkey model, no statistically significant increase in corneal thickness occurred in control or methylcellulose eyes at day seven. The endothelial cell loss was greater than in the cat model in both control and methylcellulose eyes; there was no statistically significant difference between the two. Two percent methylcellulose was safe in both the cat and monkey models. It facilitated surgery in both models and reduced the endothelial cell loss in the cat eye.