Endothelial Cell Count After Combined Phacovitrectomy Versus Phacoemulsification Following Pars Plana Vitrectomy

Abstract

BACKGROUND To compare corneal endothelial cell count (ECC) after one-step surgery: combined phacoemulsification-IOL and pars planavitrectomy (PPV) with that after two-step surgery-PPV followed by phacoemulsification-IOL after at least 2 months of the first procedure. Purpose-After reviewing the available literature, we did not find studies on the above stated topic. This study may prove helpful to the surgeon in considering one-step combined phacoemulsification-IOL and pars planavitrectomy for the patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS 62 patients (65 eyes) who underwent one-step phacovitrectomy (33 eyes of 32 patients; group 1) and two-step surgery-PPV followed by phacoemulsification-IOL (32 eyes of 30 patients; group 2) were enrolled in this study. The Corneal endothelial cell count of both the groups were compared with the baseline values of the respective groups at the end of 3months and 6 months after surgery and cell count of both the groups were compared. RESULTS The mean endothelial cell loss in group 2 (22.67%±19.49% and 23.82%±18.96% at 3 and 6 months respectively) was significantly higher than that in group 1 (16.1%±9.62% and 15.08%±11.24% at 3 and 6 months respectively) [p=0.0024 and p=0.0022 at 3 months and 6 months respectively]. CONCLUSION Corneal endothelial cell loss was found more in Group-2 patients; may be due to complications following first surgery and due to more tissue handling.