Effect of room temperature and cooled intraocular irrigating solution on the cornea and anterior segment inflammation after phacoemulsification: a randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of cooled and room temperature BSS Plus solution on the central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior segment inflammation, and corneal endothelium in patients undergoing phacoemulsification.

METHODS

In this prospective, randomized study, 70 consecutive patients undergoing phacoemulsification were assigned to one of two groups: Group 1 (controls) (n=35) received BSS Plus at a room temperature of 23 degrees C and Group 2 (cases; n=35) received BSS Plus cooled at 10 degrees C. In both the groups, the percentage of difference for CCT, absolute change in endothelial cell density, and coefficient of variation (CV) from preoperative to postoperative periods was analysed. The presence of anterior chamber flare and cells were compared postoperatively between the two groups.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in percentage change for CCT from preoperative to postoperative days 1, 7, and 30 between the two groups (P=0.30, P=0.56, and P=0.52). There was no statistically significant difference in the ECD loss (P=0.19) and CV (P=0.88) at 1 month between the two groups. The influence of the solutions on anterior chamber flare and cells was not statistically significant between the two groups on the first postoperative day (P=0.17, P=0.11).

CONCLUSIONS

The temperature of the BSS Plus solution did not affect any parameter of the study. The use of moderately cooled BSS had no detectable effect and benefit on the outcome of the surgery.