Endothelial damage with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.
Specular microscopy was used to study the corneal endothelium in a series of patients undergoing phacoemulsification with and without intraocular lens implantation by one experienced surgeon. Cell loss after phacoemulsification alone  was variable, but the mean was 18%, with a median of 11%. The patients undergoing phacoemulsification plus lens implantation showed a mean cell loss of 26%, with a median of 17%. This is considerably lower than has been reported with standard intracapsular extraction plus lens implantation. The decreased endothelial damage is attributed to the technique of inserting the lens through a small incision and maintaining an air bubble between the lens and the cornea throughout lens insertion and wound closure.
D000368:Aged; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000601:surgery*; D007909:Lenses; D008875:Middle Aged; D019736:Prostheses and Implants