title: Outcomes of cataract surgery in eyes with a low corneal endothelial cell density.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the surgical outcomes of cataract surgery in eyes with a low preoperative corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) and analyze factors affecting the prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tokyo Dental College, Ichikawa General Hospital, Chiba, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Noncomparative case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eyes with a preoperative ECD of less than 1000 cells/mm(2) that had cataract surgery between 2006 and 2010 were identified. Standard phacoemulsification with intraocular lenses was performed using the soft-shell technique. The rate of endothelial cell loss, incidence of bullous keratopathy, and risk factors were retrospectively assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-one eyes (53 patients) with a low preoperative ECD were identified. Preoperative diagnoses or factors regarded as causing endothelial cell loss included Fuchs dystrophy (20 eyes), laser iridotomy (16 eyes), keratoplasty (10 eyes), traumatic injury (3 eyes), trabeculectomy (3 eyes), corneal endotheliitis (2 eyes), and other (7 eyes). The corrected distance visual acuity improved from 0.59 ± 0.49 logMAR preoperatively to 0.32 ± 0.48 logMAR postoperatively (P<.001). The mean ECD was 693 ± 172 cells/mm(2) and 611 ± 203 cells/mm(2), respectively (P=.001). The mean rate of endothelial cell loss was 11.5% ± 23.4%. Greater ECD loss was associated with a shorter axial length (AL) (<23.0 mm) and diabetes mellitus. Bullous keratopathy developed in 9 eyes (14.8%) and was associated with posterior capsule rupture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that modern techniques for cataract surgery provide excellent visual rehabilitation in many patients with a low preoperative ECD. Shorter AL, diabetes mellitus, and posterior capsule rupture were risk factors for greater ECD loss and bullous keratopathy.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Ichikawa General Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. kyamazoe1528@yahoo.co.jp
authors: Katsuya
authors: K
authors: Yamazoe
authors: Takefumi
authors: T
authors: Yamaguchi
authors: Kazuki
authors: K
authors: Hotta
authors: Yoshiyuki
authors: Y
authors: Satake
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Konomi
authors: Seika
authors: S
authors: Den
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Shimazaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002452:Cell Count; D055954:Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011379:Prognosis; D019591:Pseudophakia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology