Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.52(4) > 1009013

Lee, Kim, Wee, and Lee: Short-Term Outcome of Cataract Surgery Using Torsional-Mode Phacoemulsification for Patients with Low Endothelial Cell Counts

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the short-term clinical outcome of cataract surgery using torsional mode phacoemulsification for patients with low endothelial cell density.

Methods

Fifty-seven eyes of 52 patients who underwent torsional phacoemulsification and intraocular lens insertion were included in the present study. Patients were divided into groups according to endothelial cell density (ECD). The control group was comprised of patients with more than 2500/mm2 of ECD and was compared with the low ECD group (LECD) comprised of patients with less than 1600/mm2 of ECD. The LECD group was further divided into a very low ECD group (VLECD) comprised of patients with less than 1000/mm2 of ECD, and a PK-VLECD group comprised of patients with less than 1000/mm2 of ECD after penetrating keratoplasty. Measurement of ECD, cell-size variation coefficient, hexagonality, and central corneal thickness were performed preoperatively and 1 month after surgery.

Results

The only one patient who had undergone penetrating keratoplasty with remaining low endothelial density and grade 4 nuclear sclerosis developed overt corneal edema after cataract surgery. No statistically significant differences in the change of endothelial cell characteristics and central corneal thickness before and after surgery were observed between the control and LECD group and between the VLECD and PK-VLECD group.

Conclusions

Even in patients with low ECD, torsional phacoemulsification appears to have a similar effect on the short-term change of endothelial cells, suggesting cataract surgery can be conducted with a staged approach when the density of nucleus is moderate or less dense.

References

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Figure 1.
Comparison of endothelial cell loss after cataract surgery in the control and low endothelial cell density group (LECD), very low endothelial cell density group (VLECD) and very low endothelial cell density after penetrating keratoplasty groups (PK-VLECD). There was no statistically significant difference between the control and LECD group, and also between VLECD and PK-VLECD group (p>0.05).
jkos-52-434f1.tif
Figure 2.
Comparison of cell size variation coefficient (CV) after cataract surgery in the control and low endothelial cell density group (LECD), very low endothelial cell density group (VLECD) and very low endothelial cell density after penetrating keratoplasty groups (PK-VLECD). There was no statistically significant difference between the control and LECD group, and also between VLECD and PK-VLECD group (p>0.05).
jkos-52-434f2.tif
Figure 3.
Comparison of hexagonality (6A) after cataract surgery in the control and low endothelial cell density group (LECD), very low endothelial cell density group (VLECD) and very low endothelial cell density after penetrating keratoplasty groups (PK-VLECD). There was no statistically significant difference between the control and LECD group, and also between VLECD and PK-VLECD group (p>0.05).
jkos-52-434f3.tif
Figure 4.
Comparison of central corneal thickness (CCT) after cataract surgery in the control and low endothelial cell density group (LECD), very low endothelial cell density group (VLECD) and very low endothelial cell density after penetrating keratoplasty groups (PK-VLECD). There was no statistically significant difference between the control and LECD group, and also between VLECD and PK-VLECD group (p>0.05).
jkos-52-434f4.tif
Table 1.
Demographics of patients
Variable LECD Control p-value
No. of patients 25 27 -
No. of eyes 28 29 -
Sex (M/F) 9/16 12/15 0.535*
Age (years)
 Mean 62.46 ± 12.73 63.62 ± 11.64 0.804
 Range 34-78 44-84
Nuclear opacity 2.21 ± 1.10 2.31 ± 1.20 0.726
Phaco time (s) 91.94 ± 87.23 89.24 ± 68.97 0.856
Phaco energy (%) 9.20 ± 5.56 11.04 ± 4.95 0.268
BSS used (ml) 134 ± 69 109 ± 52 0.521
Incision (Sup/Temp) 5/23 7/22 0.561*
Mean Preop BCVA (log MAR) 1.14 ± 0.56 0.7 ± 0.57 0.002

LECD=patients with low endothelial cell density; Control =patients with normal endothelial cell density; Preop =preoperative; BCVA=best corrected visual acuity.

Mean ± SD.

* Chi-square test;

Mann-Whitney U-test.

Table 2.
Preoperative diagnoses of corneas in patients with low endothelial cell density
Diagnosis No. eyes (%)
s/p penetrating keratoplasty 13 46.4
Fuch’s dystrophy 4 14.3
Bullous keratopathy 2 7.1
Corneal ulcer 2 7.1
Unknown corneal opacity 4 14.3
Conjunctival-corneal intraepithelial neoplasia 1 3.6
None 2 7.1
Total 28 100

s/p = status post.

Table 3.
Comparison of endothelial cell changes between the control, low endothelial cell density group (LECD), very low endothelial cell density group (VLECD), and very low endothelial cell density after penetrating keratoplasty groups (PK-VLECD)
Cell density (cells/mm2)
Cell size variation coefficient
Hexagonality (%)
Central corneal thickness (μ m)
Pre-op (mean±SD) Post-op (mean±SD) Pre-op (mean±SD) Post-op (mean±SD) Pre-op (mean±SD) Post-op (mean±SD) Pre-op (mean±SD) Post-op (mean±SD)
Control 2780.76±222.24 2445.83±365.52 35.00±6.53 36.10±7.35 57.97±10.45 56.48±10.51 547.59±41.91 563.07±41.58
LECD 988.44±403.01 836.70±408.21 35.00±9.46 37.56±10.29 52.33±15.07 46.74±14.63 525.33±57.71 545.37±60.06
VLECD 645.14±203.63 563.36±172.74 35.21±9.75 36.64±8.67 51.29±15.05 45.71±12.49 544.36±62.93 572.21±59.37
PK-VLEC D 647.40±210.84 540.50±190.97 35.50±10.24 35.90±9.48 54.60±14.45 46.80±9.25 550.00±62.27 580.90±63.49

Control = patients with normal endothelial cell density ≥ 2500/mm2; LECD = patients with low endothelial cell density <1600/mm2; VLECD = patients with very low endothelial cell density <1000/mm2; PK-VLECD = patients with very low endothelial cell density (<1000/mm2) after penetrating keratoplasty.

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