Comparison of endothelial cell loss by specular microscopy between phacoemulsification versus small incision cataract surgery

Abstract

To compare endothelial cell density, central corneal thickness changes and evaluate best corrected visual acuity after small incision and phacoemulsification cataract surgery. In this prospective study, patient were presented with significant cataract. Cataract were graded using lens opacities classification system grading. Forty three patients underwent phacoemulsification and forty-one underwent SICS. Patient with any other ocular pathology were excluded. Phacoemulsifiaction was performed, the chop-stop technique and SICS by the viscoexpression technique. The endothelial cell count and central corneal thickness were measured by non-contact specular microscope and best corrected visual acuity evaluated by snellen chart preoperatively and postoperatively on day 1, 3 and 6 week respectively.The mean endothelial cell loss (cells/mm) in phacoemulsification was 194.28 (7.16%), 311.46 (11.48%) and 412.16 (15.20%) and in SICS was 155.41 (6.17%), 230.19 (9.14%) and 296.54 (11.89%) and was statistically significant (P<0.05). There is an increase in mean base line central corneal thickness from 530.44±12.34 micron increased by 62.62 micron (11.80%), 17.88 micron (3.37%)and 6.04 micron (1.13%) in phacoemulsification and 523.24±6.63 micron increase by 38.05 micron (7.26%), 21.24 micron (4.05%) and 2.63 micron (0.50%) in SICS at day i 3 week and 6 week respectively. There was statistically significant (P<0.001). BCVA of better than 6/18 was achieved in 95.34% of the eyes after phacoemulsification and 92.68% after SICS. There was statistically significant.No significant differences in endothelial less loss, central corneal thickness and best corrected visual acuity in between phacoemulsification and SICS.