title: Transient Corneal Edema After Phacoemulsification.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the association between pre-operative and intra-operative factors leading to transient corneal edema after phacoemulsification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Ophthalmology, Shifa Foundation Community Health Centre, Islamabad, from October 2011 to September 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing phacoemulsification and Intraocular Lens (IOL) implantation were enrolled in the study using consecutive non-probability sampling. Pre-operative risk factors including peripheral corneal degenerations, the type and density of cataract were documented. Surgical risk factors included the incision site, the type of intraocular lens, the phacotechnique and the phacopower time. Postoperatively the patients were assessed for corneal clarity and the degree of striate keratopathy. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 17.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 43% male and 57% female patients (n = 182). Mean age was 58.92 ± 13.00 years (median and mode-60 years). Factors which increased the risk of transient corneal edema after phacoemulsification included hypertension (p = 0.022), dense nuclear cataracts (p=0.006), divide and conquer technique (p = 0.008), duration of phacopower use (p < 0.001) and peripheral corneal degenerations (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with peripheral corneal degenerations and dense nuclear cataracts had significantly higher rates of postoperative corneal edema. Use of phaco-chop technique and less phaco-power time helps in decreasing corneal edema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Shifa College of Medicine (SCM), Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad.
authors.forename: Ayisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kausar
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Shifa College of Medicine (SCM), Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad.
authors.forename: Saadia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farooq
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Rawal Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad.
authors.forename: Waseem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Akhter
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Shifa College of Medicine (SCM), Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akhtar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000379:methods; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity