The effect of anterior chamber depth on endothelial cell count and postoperative corneal edema in phacoemulsification surgery

Abstract

To investigate the effect of anterior chamber depth on corneal endothelial cell loss and development of postoperative corneal edema in patients undergoing phacoemulsification surgery.Materials and methods: The effect of preoperative anterior chamber depth was evaluated by ultrasound biometry of 35 eyes with senile cataract and treated with phacoemulsification on intraoperative endothelial cell loss and at postoperative central corneal thicknesses by specular microscopy.Results: The mean age was 64.8 ± 10.7 years (range 42-84). Preoperative anterior chamber depth, cell density and central corneal thickness were 3.37 ± 0.51 mm (1.61-4.33 mm), 2345 ± 341 cell/mm² (1600-2915 cell/mm²) and 536 ± 32 μ (457-588 μ) respectively. Postoperative endothelial cell densities were detected 1876 ± 443 cell/mm², 1882 ± 457 cell/mm² and 1920 ± 456 cell/mm² at first week, first month and at third month respectively. Compared to preoperative values, decreases of endothelial cell densities at postoperative first week, first month and third month were found to be significant (p0.05).Conclusion: Phacoemulsification surgery leaded to more endothelial cell loss than expected in patients with shallow anterior chamber. Anterior chamber depth should preoperatively be evaluated especially in the elderly and/or patients with endothelial dystrophy