PHACOEMULSIFICATION PROCEDURE .3. CORNEAL COMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Persistent corneal edema is one of the complications of phacoemulsification. Five patients underwent this procedure 6-8 mo. before keratoplasty was performed. In addition to bullous keratopathy, 2 corneas had corneal scarring due to probe overheating or corneal vascularization of the anterior chamber. EM of corneal specimens showed that 4 cases had Fuchs'' dystrophy without warts and 1 had guttata. Endothelial cell destruction varied from lesions of small size (15-50 .mu.) to large abrasions. Cases with severe edema and vitreous adhesion showed retrocorneal membrane formation. Surgical trauma seemed to have precipitated decompensation of these dystrophic corneas.