title: The effects of blunt trauma and cataract surgery on corneal endothelial cell density.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to investigate the effects of trauma and cataract surgery on corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) in patients with a traumatic cataract due to blunt trauma without globe laceration.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, 31 subjects with traumatic cataract (traumatic cataract group) and 30 subjects with a senile cataract (control group) were enrolled. The subjects with traumatic cataract were subdivided into two groups: uncomplicated surgery subgroup (n = 19) in which subjects underwent standard phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation and complicated surgery subgroup (n = 12) in which subjects underwent cataract surgery other than standard phacoemulsification. The ECD of the traumatic cataract group and the control group was compared preoperatively and at 3 months or later postoperatively. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ECD in the eyes with traumatic cataract was 13.1% lower than that for healthy eyes preoperatively (P = 0.043). Postsurgical ECD decreased by 16.7% in complicated surgery subgroup and 11.9% in uncomplicated surgery subgroup (P = 0.049) after 3 months postoperatively. The ECD decreased by 10.8% in the control group (P = 0.489).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with cataracts due to blunt trauma had a decreased endothelial cell count, which was significantly aggravated by cataract surgery. The loss of corneal endothelium cells due to surgery depends on the surgical approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Baris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yeniad
authors.forename: Isik
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Corum
authors.forename: Cahit
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozgun