Comparison between effects of Ringer′s and Ringer′s lactate irrigating solutions on corneal endothelium during phacoemulsfication

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to compare the effect of phacoemulsification on the corneal endothelium using Ringer′s and Ringer′s lactate as the intraocular irrigating solution. Setting Mansoura Ophthalmic Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt. Design Prospective randomized comparative study. Materials and methods A total of 102 eyes of 102 patients with senile cataract were randomized to have phacoemulsification with foldable intraocular lens implantation performed using Ringer′s (group 1) or Ringer′s lactate (group 2) as the intraocular irrigating solution. Specular microscopy was done preoperatively, 1 week and 3 months postoperatively to evaluate endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation (CV), and central corneal thickness. Data were analyzed using the t-test, the Mann-Whitney U-test, and the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results Mean ECD was 2532 cells/mm 2 preoperatively, 2345 cells/mm 2 1 week, and 2284 cells/mm 2 3 months postoperatively in group 1, and 2526, 2374, and 2322 cells/mm 2 , respectively, in group 2. There was a statistically significant difference between preoperative ECD and each of 1 week and 3 months postoperative ECD in each group. No significant difference was found between 1-week mean ECD reduction in group 1 (7.35%) and group 2 (6.05%) or between 3-month mean ECD reduction in group 1 (9.69%) and group 2 (8.07%). Conclusion Ringer′s and Ringer′s lactate solutions are associated with minimal changes in corneal ECD, morphology, and function during uncomplicated phacoemulsification with foldable intraocular lens implantation in patients with normal endothelial cell counts. There is no clinically significant difference in endothelial cell preservation and polymegathism and corneal swelling between Ringer′s and Ringer′s lactate solutions.

Keywords

• Corneal endothelium
• phacoemulsfication
• Ringer′s