Abstract
Purpose: :
To compare endothelial cell loss following a temporal 2.75 mm and 4.0 mm clear corneal incision following phacoemulsification.
Methods: :
One hundred patients with senile cataracts grade 1 (soft nucleus) had inserted a single piece acrylic IOL with a 6.0 mm optic (Acrysof SA60AT) injected through a 2.75 mm (group 1, n= 50) and through a 4,00mm (group 2, n=50) with a lens forceps.. Exclusion criteria were history of corneal disease, ocular trauma and inflammation. All surgeries were performed by the same surgeon with standard technique. Endothelial densities of the cornea were measured with specular microscopy before and three months after surgery.
Results: :
The initial preoperative mean cell count for the entire sample was 2498. An average 7,07% (5,87% to 10,32%) reduction in cell count was recorded by 3 months postoperatively in group one, and 10,89% (6,19 to 13,66%) in group two.
Conclusions: :
The surgeon may prefer the smallest possible incision not only to maintain a stable chamber and a faster recovery, but also because appears to be more effective in order to avoid endothelial cell trauma during surgery.
Keywords: cataract • cornea: endothelium • intraocular lens