Corneal endothelial cell loss with different techniques of nucleus delivery in Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery- Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: To compare corneal endothelial loss in manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) following three different techniques of nucleus delivery (Viscoexpression, Irrigating Vectis, Phacosandwich).

SETTING

Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India.

DESIGN

Prospective, single blinded, randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

Willing patients > 40years of age with immature cataract and posted for MSICS were recruited for the study. Those with systemic or ocular comorbidities which may influence corneal endothelium, dilated pupil size of <5mm, intraoperative complications and postoperative corneal haze were excluded. They were randomly divided to one of the three groups (Group 1- Viscoexpression, Group 2- Irrigating Vectis, Group 3- Phacosandwich) for nucleus delivery. Visual acuity and corneal endothelial parameters were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively at 6-8weeks.

RESULTS

A total of 90 patients with mean age of 59.13 ± 9.42 years (range 40-82years) were studied with 30 patients in each group. Following MSICS there was a 12.12% (p=0.001) endothelial cell loss. It was 10.81% in viscoexpression group, 11.3% in irrigating vectis group and 14.28% in phacosandwich group. Post hoc analysis with Dunn Bon ferroni test showed endothelial cell loss following viscoexpression and irrigating vectis methods of nucleus delivery were comparable (p=0.096) and significantly lesser (p<0.001) than in Phacosandwich group.

CONCLUSION

There was significant endothelial cell loss following MSICS. Nucleus delivery by viscoexpression and irrigating vectis had similar endothelial cell loss while it was greater with phacosandwich technique.