Endothelial cell loss after small incision cataract surgery.

BACKGROUND

The corneal endothelium plays an important role in maintaining the dehydrated state and the transparency of the cornea. Some degree of endothelial cell loss invariably occurs in all types of cataract surgery but the amount of endothelial cell loss varies with the surgical technique.

AIM

To evaluate the density of the central corneal endothelial cells before and after small incision cataract surgery (SICS) with posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) implantation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 100 eyes of 100 patients undergoing SICS with PC IOL were included in the study. Endothelial cell density was measured with non-contact specular microscope pre-operatively and post-operatively on Day 1, Day 7 and at one month.

RESULTS

The mean endothelial cell count pre-operatively was 2673 ± 358.85 cells / sq mm while post-operatively at 1 month it was 2249.77 ± 354.04 cells / sq mm.

CONCLUSION

There is 15.83 % reduction in endothelial cell count after SICS with PC IOL implantation, which is comparable with other modes of cataract surgery like extra-capsular cataract extraction and phacoemulsification.