Endothelial cell loss was determined by specular microscopy in 50 patients after extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber lens implantation. An age-matched group of unoperated fellow eyes and normal phakic eyes comprised the control group. For this series, 14.7% of the central corneal endothelial cells were lost as a result of cataract surgery and lens implantation. These patients are the first group to receive a Shearing lens implant.