Effect of Incision Site on Corneal Endothelial Cell Count Changes in Cataract Surgery by Phacoemulsification

Objectives: A comparison was made between scleral tunnel incision and clear corneal incision for their effect on corneal endothelial cell count changes in cataract surgery by phacoemulsification. Subjects and methods: 100 patients included in this study were selected from outpatient department of LRBT Eye Hospital and randomly divided into two groups. Group A received scleral tunnel incision and Group B received clear corneal incision. Preoperatively, specular microscopy was performed to count corneal endothelial cells. Postoperative follow up was performed at 1st day, 1 week, 6 week and 3 month. Results: Scleral tunnel incision group resulted in 6.44% +/- 0.62% mean cell loss 3 month postoperatively. Mean cell loss 3 month postoperatively was 8.39% +/- 0.61% by clear corneal incision. Conclusion: Compared with clear corneal incision, scleral tunnel incision was associated with lower postoperative endothelial damage.