Cataract surgery for congenital cataract: endothelial cell characteristics, corneal thickness, and impact on intraocular pressure.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether central corneal thickness (CCT), endothelial cell characteristics, and intraocular pressure (IOP) are affected in patients with previous congenital cataract surgery and to focus on their clinical significance.

METHODS

CCT and IOP measurements and specular microscopy were performed in 31 eyes of 17 cases of extracted congenital cataracts and 40 eyes of 20 age- and sex-matched participants as control group. The mean of three pachymetry measurements of the central cornea was taken as CCT. IOP was checked using an applanation tonometer.

RESULTS

The mean corneal thickness of the eyes with extracted congenital cataract (632+/-45 microm) was significantly greater than that of the control eyes (546+/-33 microm; p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the corneal endothelial cell count, coefficient of variation (CV), and mean cell area (AVG) of endothelial cells between operated eyes and the control group. The mean measured IOP in the operated group (22.8+/-3.3 mm Hg) was significantly greater than IOP in controls (14.1+/-1.8 mm Hg, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the corneas were clinically clear and there was no significant difference in endothelial characteristics of eyes with extracted congenital cataract and controls, central corneas of operated eyes were significantly thicker than those of controls. To differentiate the actual glaucoma from ocular hypertension in these patients, the central corneal thickness measurement should strongly be considered.