Endothelial trauma and cell loss from intraocular lens insertion.

Eighty-six patients who underwent intraocular lens implantation in one eye, with no surgery in the contralateral eye, were examined by specular microscopy. The mean endothelial cell density (ECD) was 39.5% lower in the operated eye. The loss of ECD was roughly proportional to the endothelial trauma from the intraocular lens at the time of surgery.