Effect of torsional versus longitudinal phacoemulsification on the corneal endothelium

Abstract

Background/aim The present study aims to compare postoperative endothelial outcome after cataract surgery performed with longitudinal phacoemulsification with that performed with torsional phacoemulsification in patients with senile cataract. Patients and methods In this prospective observational study, 20 eyes with senile cataract of different grades of nuclear hardness underwent phacoemulsification by means of a 2.8-mm clear corneal incision using Ozil IP, 10 of which underwent torsional phacoemulsification and 10 underwent longitudinal phacoemulsification. Central endothelial cell counts were taken in all patients preoperatively, at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. Results The study included 20 patients with age-related cataract whose ages ranged from 55 to 64 years. There was highly statistically significant endothelial cell loss throughout the study in the two groups and also significant endothelial cell loss between the two groups by the third month (P = 0.02). Conclusion Both torsional and longitudinal phacoemulsification techniques were efficient in removing noncomplicated cataract; however, statistically significant endothelial cell loss was noted, especially with longitudinal phacoemulsification.

Keywords

• Cataract
• endothelial cells
• longitudinal phacoemulsification
• Ozil
• torsional phacoemulsification