[Measuring corneal volume. A possible quality parameter in cataract surgery?].

BACKGROUND

Phacoemulsification of the lens induces changes in the inner corneal architecture. This study quantified the corneal pre- and postoperative volumes.

METHODS

Corneal volume was measured by noninvasive corneal topography using Orbscan. Following phacoemulsification with lens implantation, 56 eyes of 55 persons were examined by three Orbscan tests: preoperatively and 6 h and 24 h after cataract surgery. Healon was used as viscoelastic medium.

RESULTS

The mean corneal volume in the 3-mm central corneal diameter was 4.64 mm3 preoperatively, 5.36 mm3 6 h postoperatively, and 5.05 mm3 24 h postoperatively. Corneal volume thus increased by 0.72 mm3 within 6 h after phacoemulsification and decreased by 0.31 mm3 over the following 18 h.

CONCLUSION

Orbscan offers a noninvasive method for obtaining useful and accurate information in defining the corneal volume. This method may represent a new parameter for describing the function of corneal endothelial cells in cataract surgery.