Cryoirrigation in phacoemulsification facilitates a quicker cornea endothelia recovery.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the recovery of cornea endothelia after phacoemulsification (phaco) with anterior chamber irrigation at different temperatures.


METHODS
A between-group design was used.


METHODS
Thirty-eight patients with cataract.


METHODS
Phaco was done on 40 eyes in these patients with exactly the same procedure except for the temperature of the anterior chamber: cryoirrigation at 12 masculine C for group 1 and at room temperature (25 masculine C) for group 2, 20 eyes in each group, randomly distributed. The cornea edema, keratic precipitate (KP), and anterior chamber flare were observed with micro-slit lamp and graded on a 4-point scale at 1, 3, and 7 days after surgery and compared between groups.


RESULTS
The corneas in group 1 were found to be clearer than those in group 2 at 1 and 3 days after surgery. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05) in favour of group 1, suggesting a lighter reaction of cornea endothelia and a quicker recovery in group 1 after the surgery with cryoirrigation. Corresponding recovery in group 2 was found to occur latterly between day 3 and day 7. However, the recovery in both groups was complete, yielding no difference between groups, at day 7 after surgery. In addition, no significant difference was found in Tyndall phenomenon and KP between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Cryoirrigation during phaco could reduce postoperative cornea edema and promote recovery. The result advocates the use of cryoirrigation in clinic.
Zhang
Shu
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Xia Guan, Jiang Jia Yuan No. 121, Nanjing, China. zhangs60@yahoo.com.cn
Wang
Jian
J
Liu
Jin
J
D000085:Acetates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000187:drug effects*; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000517:prevention & control; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods; D014792:Visual Acuity
D000085:Acetates; C030660:BSS solution; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008903:Minerals; D012965:Sodium Chloride