Effect of small incision nonphacoemulsification cataract extraction on corneal endothelial cells

Objective To investigate the effect of small incision nonphacoemulsification cataract surgery on corneal endothelial cells. Methods One hundred and twenty-three cataract patients (136eyes) were collected from January 2010 to June 2011 in our hospital.Small incision nonphacoemulsification cataract extraction was performed by the same physician.The corneal endothelial cells on the upper,the central and the lower corneal were measured by using corneal endothelial microscope preoperative and 1 week,1 month and 3 months postoperative.The comeal endothelial cells density,loss rate,hexagonal cell ratio and cell area were calculated. Results The differences among the upper,the central and the lower cornea of comcal endothelial cells density,hexagonal cell ratio and cell area were no statistical significances (all P ＞0.05) before operation.The comeal endothelial cells density decreased,the hexagonal cells ratio decreased and the cell area increased after operation.The differences among the upper,the central and the lower cornea of corneal endothelial cells density,hexagonal cell ratio and cell area were the largest at 1 week after operation and were statistical significances (all P ＜0.01).The differences among the upper,the central and the lower cornea of corneal endothelial cells density,hexagonal cell ratio and cell area were statistical significances at 1month after operation (all P ＜0.05).The differences among the upper,the central and the lower corneal of corneal endothelial cells density,hexagonal cell ratio and cell area were no statistical significances at 3 months after operation (all P ＞0.05). Conclusions Small incision nonphacoemulsification cataract extraction has a small amount of damage on corneal endothelial cells,and the damage position is mainly at the incision on the upper part of corneal. Key words: Cataract; Surgery; Small incision nonphacoemulsification cataract extraction; Corneal endothelial cells