Quantitative corneal endothelial evaluation in intraocular lens implantation and cataract surgery.

We analyzed pre- and postoperative corneal endothelial photographs of 33 intraocular lens patients and found an average endothelial cell density loss of 14%. Twenty-six cataract patients, similarly examined, showed a 13% mean endothelial cell loss. In 14 of the intraocular lens patients, a second postoperative evaluation of the central endothelium, at a later date, revealed a trend toward continuing cell loss. Our results indicate fewer endothelial cells were lost after intraocular lens implantation than has been previously reported. This may be accounted for by our considering only patients with normal corneas for lens implantation, and by our constant maintenance of the anterior chamber with an air bubble during lens implant surgery.