Effect of Anterior Chamber Depth and Axial Length on Corneal Endothelial Cell Density After Phacoemulsificatio

Abstract

Objective: To assess the average amount of corneal endothelial cell density reduction in patients with various anterior chamber depths and axial lengths after phacoemulsification. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jul 2022 to Dec 2022. Methodology: Ninety-four patients with cataract who underwent uneventful phacoemulsification surgery with IOL Implantation were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of anterior chamber depth and axial length values. All patients underwent surgery, and corneal endothelial cell density was measured and compared pre and post-operatively at pre-specified time points. Results: A significant decrease in the number of corneal endothelial cells was found between both the groups at pre and postop measurements. The mean CED decreased to 2420.04±296.73 post-operatively from 2608.44±237.22 (p<0.001) among patients belonging to group 1, while for group 2 the mean CED decreased to 2484.02±254.89 from 2646.19±205.52 (p<0.001), post and pre-operatively respectively. There was no significant difference found between postoperative reduction in mean CED value between group 1 and 2. Conclusion: In current study we conclude that there is a reduction in endothelial cell density after phacoemulsification surgery for cataract, but we failed to support the fact that anterior chamber depth or axial length can be used as potential predictors to predict the loss of endothelial cells post-operatively.

Keywords

• Anterior chamber depth
• Axial length
• Cataract surgery
• Endothelial cell density
• Phacoemulsification