Decoding: What is the use of visco? in medicine

October 6, 2025 •

4 min read

Affecting millions, osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability in the United States, and for many patients, injections referred to as visco injections provide crucial relief by lubricating arthritic joints. The term 'visco' also refers to viscoelastic substances used to protect and manipulate delicate tissues during eye surgery. This article clarifies these distinct medical applications.

Quick Summary

The term 'visco' primarily refers to viscosupplementation for osteoarthritis of the knee and ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs) for eye surgery. The former involves injecting hyaluronic acid into joints, while the latter uses viscoelastic gels to protect and manipulate ocular tissues during procedures.

Key Points

Visco is Not a Single Drug: The term 'visco' is medical shorthand referring to two distinct types of viscoelastic treatments for orthopedic and ophthalmic purposes.
Viscosupplementation Relieves Joint Pain: For osteoarthritis, viscosupplementation involves injecting hyaluronic acid into a joint, typically the knee, to act as a lubricant and cushion.
OVDs Protect During Eye Surgery: In ophthalmology, viscoelastics are gels (OVDs) used to protect tissues and maintain space within the eye during delicate procedures like cataract surgery.
Hyaluronic Acid is the Key Component: Hyaluronic acid is the active ingredient in most viscosupplementation products and many ophthalmic viscoelastics, mimicking the body's natural lubricating fluids.
Treatment Benefits are Not Instantaneous: The pain relief and improved mobility from viscosupplementation injections are often gradual and may take several weeks to become noticeable.
Risk of Increased Eye Pressure: A key side effect of OVDs is a temporary increase in intraocular pressure, which is managed by removing the gel at the end of the procedure.
Not a Replacement for Surgery: Viscosupplementation is a non-surgical alternative for managing moderate osteoarthritis pain, but it may not eliminate the need for surgery entirely.

The term 'visco' is a medical shorthand that refers to a class of viscoelastic substances, primarily used in two distinct fields: orthopedics and ophthalmology. In orthopedic care, it commonly refers to viscosupplementation, an injectable treatment for joint pain, most notably for knee osteoarthritis. In eye surgery, viscoelastics are gel-like materials known as ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs) that play a critical role in complex procedures.

Viscosupplementation: A Treatment for Joint Pain

Viscosupplementation, or 'visco injections', is a therapeutic procedure used to manage the symptoms of osteoarthritis, especially in the knee. In osteoarthritis, the natural cushioning fluid in the joint, called synovial fluid, breaks down, causing bones to rub together and resulting in pain, stiffness, and inflammation.

How Visco Injections Restore Joint Function

The injections introduce a gel-like substance called hyaluronic acid (or hyaluronan) directly into the affected joint. This supplemental fluid mimics the properties of healthy synovial fluid, providing lubrication and acting as a shock absorber. By restoring the joint's natural fluid, these injections can help to:

Reduce pain and swelling
Improve overall joint mobility and function
Deliver beneficial substances directly to cartilage
Potentially delay the need for joint replacement surgery in some cases

Many patients do not experience immediate relief after the first injection, as the benefits often accumulate over the course of a series of treatments. The results can last for several months, and the treatment can be repeated.

Candidate Profile for Viscosupplementation

Viscosupplementation is generally recommended for patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis who have not found adequate relief from more conservative treatments, such as physical therapy, exercise, and over-the-counter pain medications. It is also a viable option for individuals who cannot take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) due to other medical conditions.

Ophthalmic Viscosurgical Devices (OVDs): Tools for Eye Surgery

In ophthalmology, 'visco' refers to viscoelastic substances that are essential surgical aids, particularly during cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. These clear, gel-like materials are injected into the eye to assist the surgeon in multiple ways.

The Critical Role of Viscoelastics in Eye Surgery

OVDs perform several functions that are crucial for successful and safe ophthalmic surgery:

Maintain Space: They help create and maintain the volume and shape of the anterior chamber, which keeps the eye's delicate structures stable during the procedure.
Protect Tissues: The gels act as a protective barrier, preventing mechanical trauma to the corneal endothelium and other intraocular tissues from surgical instruments.
Manipulate Tissues: Their unique consistency allows the surgeon to precisely manipulate tissues within the eye.

OVDs can be broadly classified as either cohesive or dispersive, each with different properties that are advantageous for specific stages of surgery. Cohesive OVDs tend to stick together, making them easier to remove, while dispersive OVDs have a greater coating ability, adhering better to surfaces to protect them.

Examples of OVD Products and Their Uses

Different viscoelastic devices are used depending on the surgical needs. Some examples mentioned in the search results include:

VISCOAT®: A dispersive OVD offering strong protection to the corneal endothelium.
PROVISC®: A cohesive OVD used for its mechanical protection and space maintenance properties.
DisCoVisc®: A unique viscous dispersive OVD that offers a combination of properties in a single product.

Comparison of Visco Uses: Orthopedics vs. Ophthalmology


Feature	Viscosupplementation (Orthopedics)	Ophthalmic Viscosurgical Devices (Ophthalmology)
Primary Use	Treatment of osteoarthritis, most commonly in the knee.	Surgical aid for eye procedures like cataract surgery.
Active Ingredient	Hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan).	Sodium hyaluronate, chondroitin sulfate, or other viscoelastic compounds.
Mechanism	Supplements depleted synovial fluid, acting as a lubricant and shock absorber.	Maintains anterior chamber shape and protects tissues from mechanical trauma.
Route of Administration	Intra-articular injection (into the joint).	Intracameral injection (into the eye's anterior chamber).
Result	Long-lasting pain relief and improved joint mobility.	Enables safer and more precise surgical manipulation within the eye.

Conclusion

While the term 'visco' can cause confusion due to its different applications, its use in medicine is focused on the therapeutic properties of viscoelastic substances. Whether used as viscosupplementation to relieve joint pain from osteoarthritis or as an ophthalmic viscosurgical device to protect ocular tissues during surgery, these gels are invaluable tools for improving patient health and surgical outcomes. Both applications utilize the unique properties of hyaluronic acid or similar polymers to lubricate, cushion, or maintain space, demonstrating the versatile role of these materials in modern medicine. Always consult a healthcare provider to determine the appropriate treatment for your specific condition.

Potential Risks and Side Effects

Like any medical procedure, both viscosupplementation and the use of ophthalmic viscoelastics carry potential risks. For joint injections, common side effects include temporary pain, swelling, and redness at the injection site. For eye surgery, a transient rise in intraocular pressure is a known side effect, though it typically resolves spontaneously. Serious adverse effects are rare for both applications.

Emerging Research and Future Directions

Research continues to explore and refine the use of viscoelastics. Studies are investigating the use of viscosupplementation for joints other than the knee, such as the hip and shoulder. Additionally, advancements in the formulation of OVDs are leading to products with optimized properties for specific surgical needs, such as improved coating ability or ease of removal.

Beyond Viscosupplementation and OVDs

It is worth noting that other products and concepts using the 'visco' prefix exist in medical-related fields. Examples include 'visco foam' used in mattresses and pillows for orthopedic support, though this is not a medication. There are also products like 'Visco Liquid' for gastrointestinal issues and 'Visco-Gel' in dentistry. These should not be confused with the primary viscosupplementation and ophthalmic applications. Learn more about viscoelasticity on the NCBI Bookshelf.

Frequently Asked Questions

For joint pain, 'visco' refers to viscosupplementation, a treatment that injects a gel-like substance called hyaluronic acid into arthritic joints to lubricate and cushion them, providing pain relief and improving mobility.

In eye surgery, 'visco' refers to ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs). These are clear gels injected into the eye to maintain the chamber's shape, protect delicate tissues like the corneal endothelium from surgical instruments, and facilitate tissue manipulation.

'Visco' is medical shorthand for viscoelastic substances, which are materials possessing both viscous (fluid-like) and elastic (gel-like) properties. It is not a single brand name, but specific products have brand names like Visco-3, Synvisc, or VISCOAT.

The duration of relief from viscosupplementation can vary, but many patients experience sustained pain relief for approximately 6 to 12 months. The treatment can be repeated as needed, often every six months to a year.

The most common side effects of viscosupplementation injections are mild and localized to the injection site, including temporary pain, swelling, warmth, and redness. Ice packs and rest are often recommended to manage these symptoms.

Candidates for viscosupplementation typically have mild to moderate osteoarthritis and continue to experience significant pain despite trying conservative treatments like physical therapy and medication.

Medical examples include injectable hyaluronic acid products like Synvisc and Visco-3 for joint pain, and ophthalmic devices like VISCOAT and DISCOVISC for eye surgery. Other less common uses are found in dentistry (Visco-Gel) and gastroenterology (Visco Liquid).