Short-term Effects of Phacoemulsifi cation Surgeryon Corneal Endothelium in Cataract Cases withPseudoexfoliation Syndrome

Abstract

Purpose: Our aim was to evaluate the effect of phacoemulsifi cation surgery on corneal endothelial cell density (ECD), central corneal thickness (CCT) and endothelial cell morphology in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX).Material and Methods: Thirty-four eyes of 34 cases with PEX and 30 eyes of 30 control cases without PEX scheduled for cataract surgery were included. ECD, CCT, coeffi cient of variation (CV) and percentage of hexagonal cells were evaluated by using noncontact specular microscopy. The effects of phacoemulsifi cation surgery on corneal endothelium in patients with PEX were compared with the control group.Results: The mean age was 72.5±8.0 years and there were 21 male (61.8%) and 13 female patients (38.2%) in the PEX group. The mean age was 69.1±8.2 years and there were 19 male (63.3%) and 11 female patients (36.7%) in the control group. The postoperative ECD was signifi cantly lower in PEX group in all visits (p<0.05). At postoperative period, the percentage of the decrease in ECD was statistically signifi cantly higher in PEX group (p<0.05). On postoperative month 3, there was no signifi cant difference in the percentage of hexagonal cells and CV in the cell sizes between the two groups. The postoperative increase in CCT was signifi cantly higher in PEX group than controls in all visits (P<0.05).Conclusion: Short-term ECD loss was signifi cantly higher in eyes with PEX than the control group. The protective measures for corneal endothelial cells should be taken more strictly in PEX cases during the surgery.