Influence of anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber volume, axial length, and lens density on postoperative endothelial cell loss.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV), lens density (LD), and axial length (AL) as risk factors on endothelial cell loss 3 months after cataract surgery.

METHODS

We enrolled 47 patients with senile cataract who were operated between July 2012 and March 2013 by the same surgeon using torsional phacoemulsification. Preoperatively, we measured ACD, ACV, and LD using the Oculus Pentacam®. The AL was determined using the IOL Master®. Primary outcomes were central endothelial density (ECD) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) 3 months after surgery We evaluated the effect of ACD, ACV, LD, and AL as possible risk factors of postoperative percentage endothelial cell loss (ECL).

RESULTS

The median age was 72 years. The median CDVA before surgery was 0.5 improving to 1.0 postoperatively. The median ECL was 5.2 % (range 1.7 %-7.6 %). These results are comparable to our previous study (median ECL 6.9 % after 3 months) [Reuschel et al. (2010) J Cataract Refract Surg]. The median ACD in our study was 2.56 mm (range 2.26 mm-2.8 mm). Median ACV was 144 mm(3) (range 121 mm(3)-158 mm(3)]. The median LD was 12.4 (range 11.4-13.7). Median AL was 23.1 mm (range 22.7 mm-23.9 mm). Our correlation analysis showed no significant correlation between ACD, ACV, LD, AL, and postoperative ECL.

CONCLUSION

ACD, ACV, AL, and LD were not identified as risk factors of postoperative endothelial cell loss in our analysis.