Healon

• It has a high molecular weight
• It is reported to be nonantigenic
• It does not cause inflammatory or foreign body reactions
• It has a high viscosity
• Sterile, single-use 27G cannula included with each syringe
• the 1% solution of Healon is transparent
• is reported to remain in the anterior chamber for less than 6 days
• protects corneal endothelial cells and other ocular structures
• Healon does not interfere with epithelialization and normal wound healing

Healon contains 10 mg/mL of sodium hyaluronate dissolved in physiological sodium chloride phosphate buffer (pH 7.0-7.5). This high molecular weight polymer is made up of repeating disaccharide units of N-acetyl-glucosamine and sodium glucuronate linked by 1-3 and 1-4 glycosidic bonds.

Sodium hyaluronate is a physiological substance that is widely distributed in the extracellular matrix of connective tissues in both animals and man. For example, it is present in the vitreous and aqueous humor of the eye, the synovial fluid, the skin and the umbilical cord. Sodium hyaluronates prepared from various human and animal tissues are not chemically different from each other.

Healon is a specific fraction of sodium hyaluronate developed as an ophthalmo-surgical aid for use in anterior segment and vitreous procedures.