Corneal endothelial damage in phacoemulsification using an anterior chamber maintainer compared with using an ophthalmic viscosurgical device

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the effects of phacoemulsification surgery (PE) using an anterior chamber maintainer (ACM) and conventional PE using an ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) on corneal endothelial cells.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey.

Design: Prospective randomized controlled trial.

Methods: Eyes in the OVD group (n = 50) underwent conventional PE, whereas eyes in the ACM group (n = 50) underwent PE using an ACM. Endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation (CV), hexagonality (HEX), and noncontact central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements were performed by specular microscopy before and at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after PE.

Results: This study included 100 eyes of 97 patients undergoing PE. The mean age was 64.7 ± 10.6 years in the OVD group, 64.0 ± 12.6 years in the ACM group (P > .05). The groups did not differ significantly in preoperative ECD, CV, HEX, and CCT or total PE time (P > .05 for all). ECD was significantly lower in the ACM group compared with the OVD group at postoperative 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months (P = .002, P = .002, and P = .001, respectively). Similarly, ECD loss compared with preoperative value was greater in the ACM group at all postoperative timepoints (P = .003, P = .001, and P = .001, respectively). CV increased and HEX decreased in both groups postoperatively (P > .05 for both). CCT showed a transient increase of less than 10 μm at postoperative 1 month in both groups (P = .296).

Conclusions: PE with ACM was associated with greater corneal ECD loss compared with conventional PE. ACM should not be used during PE in patients with limited corneal endothelial reserve.