Effect of fluidics on corneal endothelial cell density, central corneal thickness, and central macular thickness after phacoemulsification with torsional ultrasound

The safety and efficacy of phacoemulsification surgery in uncomplicated cataracts with and without an ophthalmic-viscosurgical-device

PURPOSE

To compare and evaluate the results of phacoemulsification surgery involving and not involving an ophthalmic-viscosurgical-device (OVD).

METHODS

A prospective, randomized controlled trial included 60 eyes of 60 patients scheduled to receive phacoemulsification surgery. In order of presentation, patients were randomized into two groups to undergo different surgical techniques: the OVD-free group (n = 30) and the OVD group (n = 30). Each patient's operating time, total ultrasonography (U/S) time, cumulative dissipated energy (CDE), aspiration time, and volume of balanced salt solution (BSS) aspirated were recorded. At 1 day, 1 week, and 1 and 3 months postoperation, measurements of endothelial cell density (ECD) and intraocular pressure (IOP), were taken and compared between the groups.

RESULTS

Total U/S time (p = .567) and CDE (p = .168) were similar between the groups. In the OVD group, operating time (p = .011), aspiration time (p < .001), and volume of BSS aspirated (p < .001) were greater than in the OVD-free group. The change in ECD between the groups was not statistically significant at all visits (p = .433, p = .147, p = .379, p = .534; respectively). Although IOP increased in the OVD group at 1 day postoperation (p = .001), no difference emerged between the groups at 3 months postoperation (p = .121).

CONCLUSION

Phacoemulsification surgery without an OVD took less time than with the OVD and caused no significant loss in ECD. Surgeons concerned about elevated IOP following cataract surgery should apply the OVD-free method.

Comparative anatomical outcomes of high-flow vs. low-flow phacoemulsification cataract surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Phacoemulsification is an effective and widely performed technique in cataract surgery, but the comparative anatomical outcomes, including endothelial cell loss (ECL), central corneal thickness (CCT), and central macular thickness (CMT), between high-flow and low-flow phacoemulsification cataract surgery remain unclear.

Methods

This study followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement. Random-effects models were applied to measure pooled mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of anatomical outcomes between high-flow and low-flow phacoemulsification cataract surgery. We judged overall certainty of evidence (CoE) based on Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria.

Results

We included six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) totaling 477 participants. The meta-analysis showed similar changes associated with these two surgery types in both ECL at postoperative days 2–14 (MD: −1.63%; 95% CI: −3.73 to 0.47%; CoE: very low), days 15–42 (MD: −0.65%; 95% CI −2.96 to 1.65%; CoE: very low) and day 43 to month 18 (MD: −0.35%; 95% CI: −1.48 to 0.78%; CoE: very low), and CCT at postoperative day 1 (MD: −16.37 μm; 95% CI: −56.91 to 24.17 μm; CoE: very low), days 2–14 (MD: −10.92 μm; 95% CI: −30.00 to 8.16 μm; CoE: very low) and days 15–42 (MD: −2.76 μm; 95% CI: −5.75 to 0.24 μm; CoE: low). By contrast, low-flow phacoemulsification showed less increase in CMT at postoperative days 15–42 (MD, −4.58 μm; 95% CI: −6.3 to −2.86 μm; CoE: low).

Conclusions

We found similar anatomical outcomes, except in CMT, for both high-flow and low-flow phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Future head-to-head RCTs on visual outcomes should confirm our findings.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42022297036.

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

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.

Perioperative Use of Rho-Kinase Inhibitors has Beneficial Effect on Corneal Endothelium after Phacoemulsification

PURPOSE:

Does perioperative use of Rho-Kinase (ROCK) inhibitors have beneficial effect on corneal endothelial cells after phacoemulsification? SETTING: This study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Riyadh.

DESIGN:

This was a prospective study assessing the effect of ROCK inhibitors on corneal endothelium after phacoemulsification.

METHODOLOGY:

Three patients have used ROCK inhibitor 1 day before and 1 week after phacoemulsification surgery, and specular microscopy and Pentacam were done preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively.

RESULTS:

Endothelial cell density decreased to 11.3%, 9.45%, and 4.09% in eyes with ROCK inhibitors and 23.9% in one eye without ROCK inhibitor.

CONCLUSION:

Perioperative ROCK inhibitor use has a possible protective effect on corneal endothelium.

[Phacoemulsification cataract surgery with different cumulative energy composite parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus:therapeutic effect and complications]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of different cumulative energy composite parameters on the outcomes of phacoemulsification cataract surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

A total of 252 patients with cataract (involving 252 eyes) and type 2 diabetes mellitus received phacoemulsification cataract surgery in our hospital between January, 2017 and June, 2019. The patients were divided into group A (150 cases) and group B (102 cases) for cataract phacoemulsification with cumulative energy composite parameters of 8 and 10, respectively, and 90 nondiabetic patients received cataract phacoemulsification with a cumulative energy composite parameters of 10 served as the control. The macular thickness, best corrected visual acuity, visual acuity, and postoperative leakage in the 3 groups were evaluated at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after the surgery.

RESULTS

The visual acuity was significantly improved after phacoemulsification better in all the 3 groups. At 3 months after the surgery, the proportions of patients with visual acuity ratio < 0.1 or >1.0, macular thickness, best corrected visual acuity and permeability differed significantly between groups A and B (P < 0.05), but not between group A and the control group (P > 0.05). At 1 month and 3 months after the surgery, the proportion of patients with visual acuity ratio < 0.1 was significantly lower and the rate of visual acuity ratio >1.0 was higher in group A than in group B. At 1 month after the operation, the total leakage rate in group A (31.1%) was higher than that in the control group (21.1%) but comparable with that in group B; at 3 months, the total leakage rates were significantly lower in group A than in group B (10.0% vs 32.4%, P < 0.05), and the leakage resulted mainly from local and diffuse permeation.

CONCLUSIONS

Phacoemulsification can effectively improve the visual acuity of cataract patients especially in non-diabetic patients. A lower cumulative energy composite parameter achieves better outcomes in type 2 diabetic patients with cataract. The macular thickness, local infiltration and diffuse leakage can be used as indicators for assessing visual recovery and stabilization after phacoemulsification.