[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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Kirchhoff
A
A
Augenklinik der Universität Rostock, Doberaner Strasse 140, 18057 Rostock.
Böhm
H
H
Schäferhoff
C
C
Beck
R
R
Guthoff
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019781:Corneal Topography; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome