Comparison of the efficacy between phacoemulsification and small incision extracapsular cataract extraction for the treatment of cataract

Abstract

Objective To compare the efficacy between phacoemulsification and small incision extracapsular cataract extraction for the treatment of senile cataract. Methods The data of 198 eyes of 198 patients with senile cataract from May 2015 to May 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. All cases were divided randomly into 2 groups. Small incision group, 120 patients, underwent small incision extracapsular cataract extraction, and phacoemulsification group, 78 patients, received phacoemulsification. The efficacy, complications and corneal endothelial cell density between two groups were compared. Results The visual acuity of two groups at 3 d, 1 and 3 months after operation were improved (P 0.05). The astigmatism degree of both groups at 3 d and 1 month after operation were increased (P 0.05). Before operation, the difference in endothelial cell densities and hexagonal cell ratio between two groups were not significant (P>0.05). After operation, the endothelial cell densities and hexagonal cell ratio of both groups were decreased (P<0.05), and the small incision group were lower than phacoemulsification group (P<0.05). Conclusion Both phacoemulsification and small incision extracapsular cataract extraction can get good curative effect in the treatment of senile cataract, and phacoemulsification may have an advantage on protecting the corneal endothelial cells. Key words: Phacoemulsification; Cataract extraction, small incision; Cataract, senior