title: Near-term analysis of corneal epithelial thickness after cataract surgery and its correlation with epithelial cell changes and visual acuity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify corneal central epithelial thickness and cell changes 2 weeks after cataract surgery and correlate it with corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients having cataract surgery were assessed preoperatively and 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days postoperatively. Anterior segment spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and corneal confocal laser scanning microscopy were used to measure central epithelial thickness, central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal basal epithelial cell density, and Langerhans cell density.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CCT and central epithelial thickness were significantly increased on 1 day postoperatively. From 1 day to 14 days, the CCT gradually decreased but was greater than the baseline value, whereas the central epithelial thickness declined to near baseline values at 3 days, became thinner at 5 and 7 days, and then returned to baseline at 14 days. The corneal basal epithelial cell density increased significantly postoperatively. Significant Langerhans cell infiltration was seen at 3 days and 5 days. Significant correlations were found between CDVA and the central epithelial thickness and CCT. The maximum increase in central epithelial thickness and CCT correlated with the lowest achieved values of CDVA postoperatively. Patients with significant edema at 1 day had worse CDVA at 14 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Near-term epithelial remodeling occurred, initially appearing as a thickening that might be attributed to edema. This was followed by thinning, possibly caused by inflammation, and finally reaching baseline levels. Edema of the corneal epithelium was related to visual recovery after cataract surgery.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Tianyu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jianjiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Wenwen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: luyi0705@126.com.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002452:Cell Count; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000473:pathology; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*