Vol. 5 Issue 1 Part A

Background: Phacoemulsification surgery is performed in a limited space, therefore, anatomy and procedural parameters, such as sufficient anterior chamber depth (ACD), are essential for protecting endothelial cells during surgery from mechanical and heat damage. Specular microscope is a useful non-contact investigational technique that photographs the human corneal endothelium.

Methods: This a prospective comparative cohort non-randomized study included sixty eyes of phacoemulsification cataract surgery were collected from the outpatient clinics of Tanta University Hospitals and were admitted to Ophthalmology Department. Cases were divided into three groups according to ACD. All cases were subjected to: history taking, examination [visual acuity (VA), slit lamp examination, ACD measurement using IOL master, and Specular microscopy.

Results: The percentage of endothelial cell loss was much increased in the group A than in the group There was statistically significant increase in the mean CCT in the three groups post-operatively at 1week and 1month compared to pre-operative mean CCT. However, there was no notable differences in CCT among the three groups. There was no notable differences in Coefficient of variation (CV) among the three ACD groups over the entire study period.

Conclusions: taking in consideration the ACD as a very important prognostic factor to be considered before phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Eyes with shallow ACs can be vulnerable to more corneal endothelial cell loss during phacoemulsification surgery.