Regional specular microscopy of endothelial cell loss after intracapsular cataract extraction: A preliminary report

Abstract

In a group of 10 patients (12 eyes) undergoing intracapsular cataract extraction, corneal endothelial cell loss was serially investigated by means of regional specular microscopy. Preoperatively there were no significant regional differences in the endothelial cell density. Two weeks after surgery, the superior endothelium alone showed a significant cell loss (15.6%). Whereas, a definite endothelial cell loss occurred in each region of the cornea 1 mo. after surgery. The cell loss was greater in the superior (22.8%) and lower in the inferior (4.7%), respectively, when compared to that seen in the central cornea (9.6%). In each region, cell loss continued 3 mo. postoperatively, but no significant cell loss occurred thereafter. The entire endothelial cell population apparently participates in the healing of the damage associated with intracapsular cataract extraction; regional specular microscopy can be of help for detailed evaluation of such a damage.