title: Long-term evaluation of endothelial cell loss after phacoemulsification.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To check whether three months' follow-up is sufficient to determine endothelial cell loss after cataract surgery and whether this value depends on preoperative central endothelial cell density.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-year prospective assessment of central endothelial cell density was done in 60 eyes after phacoemulsification. In 30 eyes a 3.5 mm corneal incision closed with a single crossed suture was made, and the other 30 had a 3.5 mm scleral tunnel no-stitch incision. Central endothelial cell density was measured before surgery and 1, 3, 6 months and 2 years after.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean rate of endothelial cell loss even two years after surgery was significantly higher than the physiological rate, amounting to 0.9% per year. There was no correlation between preoperative central endothelial cell density and postoperative cell loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even two years' follow-up is not sufficient to establish the total endothelial cell loss after cataract surgery. The amount of cell loss does not depend on the preoperative density.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Ophthalmology, Ludwik Rydygier's University School of Medical Sciences, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lesiewska-Junk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kałuzny
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malukiewicz-Wiśniewska
mesh_terms: D002452:Cell Count; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors