Rate of endothelial cell loss in the early postoperative period after cataract surgery.

Abstract

Central corneal endothelial cell density was estimated in 33 consecutive patients preoperatively and at monthly intervals for 6 months after cataract surgery. The patients were divided into 3 groups by a random procedure to have either intracapsular extraction or intracapsular extraction plus Federov 4-loop iris clip lens, or extracapsular extraction with Binkhorst 2-loop iridocapsular lens. In all groups the greatest cell loss had occurred by one month and thereafter no accelerated loss was apparent except in individual patients. The limitations of such a method of assessment are discussed.