Comparison of Endothelial Cell Loss and Corneal Thickness Changes Following Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (Msics) and Phacoemulsification

A comparative analysis of endothelial cell loss was done after manual small incision cataract surgery and phacoemulsication with 100 patients in each group in a tertiary care eye hospital in India. Follow up was done at 3rd and 6th week post op for mean endothelial cell density, central corneal thickness. Analysis was done on NIDEK CEM-530 Specular microscope. Males and females were equally distributed mainly in 40-75 years of age group. The visual acuity in group A (phacoemulsication) was 6/6 in 50% patients while in group B it was 6/6 in 55% patients. There was more decrease in mean endothelial cell density in group (phacoemulsication) 4.24% vs 3.87%. Corneal edema occurred in both the groups initially but was not statistically signicant. All through in our study, there was more corneal edema, endothelial cell loss and decrease in hexagonality in phacoemulsication group. However, the difference was not statistically signicant. Hence, both the surgeries are relatively safe pertaining to corneal endothelial health keeping in mind the skill of operating surgeon and technique used.