Effect of 3.0 mm tunnel and 6.0 mm corneoscleral incisions on the blood-aqueous barrier.

PURPOSE

To study of the effect of silicone intraocular lens (IOL) implantation using a 3.0 mm tunnel incision with that of implantation though a 6.0 mm corneoscleral incision after phacoemulsification in human eyes.

SETTING

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Köln, Germany.

METHODS

In a prospective, randomized clinical study, 50 patients with senile cataract had phacoemulsification and IOL implantation through a 3.0 mm tunnel or a 6.0 mm corneoscleral incision. To assess blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) disruption, preoperative and postoperative sodium fluorescein concentrations in the anterior chamber were measured with the Fluorotron Master II. Diclofenac sodium 0.1% was applied to the operative eyes five times a day for 5 days. The contralateral eyes served as controls.

RESULTS

There was no significant between-group difference in sodium fluorescein concentrations in the 5 days after surgery.

CONCLUSION

The findings underline our clinical impression that BAB disruption 5 days after surgery does not differ significantly with the type and length of scleral incision used for IOL implantation.