A comparative study: Changes in endothelial cell count in phacoemulsification with temporal clear corneal incision vs superior scleral incision in grade II & III cataract

Abstract

Endothelial cell loss is a key indicator of the quality of anterior segment surgery like cataract surgery. The amount and integrity of corneal endothelial cells are the two most essential factors determining corneal transparency.Aim of this study was to compare the endothelial cell loss between the superior scleral tunnel incision and the temporal clear corneal incision for phacoemulsification.Prospective observational study. This prospective observational study included 50 patients with grade II and III cataracts undergoing phacoemulsification with a temporal clear corneal incision and 50 patients with a superior scleral tunnel incision. Specular microscopy was used to count ocular endothelial cells before and one month after the surgery.The mean endothelial cell loss was significantly higher with temporal clear corneal incision (14.91% ± 5.13%) in comparison to the superior scleral tunnel incision group (6.58% ± 2.06%). A superior scleral tunnel incision is associated with less postoperative endothelial cell loss as compared to a temporal clear corneal incision and could provide a better visual outcome.