Corneal Sensation after Phacoemulsification Versus Planned Extracapsular Cataract Extraction

In order to compare the corneal sensation after phacoemulsification and the planned extracapsular cataract extraction(p-ECCE), we studied 40 eyes of 31 patients prospetively. A Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer was used to measure corneal sensitivity preoperatively and at one day, three day, one week, one month, and two months postoperatively, by the same surgeon using the same technique. There was no difference in corneal sensation between phacoemulsification and p-ECCE group preoperatively. The mean corneal sensitivity at 10:00(2:00) o`clock in phacoemulsificantion/p-ECCE was 17.3+/-7.0(18.2+/-6.7)/9.9+/-1.5(10.3+1.9), 22.1+/-6.9 (23.2+/-6.3)/14.1+/-2.3(14.3+/-2.3), 29.4+/-7.7(30.6+/-7.2)/17.7+2.2(18.7+/-2.2), 37.7+/-9.3(37.8+/-9.4)/26.3+/-7.9(27.7+/-8.4), 56.3+/-7.6(56.3+7.9)/59.2+/-3.8(59.4+/-2.7)mm after 1, 3, 7, 30, 60 days, respectively. Corneal sensation at the center and the 3, 6, and 9 o`clock positions was not changed in all eyes. Corenal sensitivity was significantly more recovered in phacoemulsification group than the p-ECCE group at postoperative onemonth(p<0.05). However, there were no statistically significant difference in recovery of corneal sensation between phacoemulsification group and p-ECCE group at postoperative two months. Conclusively corneal sensation returned to peroperative level at two months postoperatively in both groups.

The Comparison between Planned Extracapsular Cataract Extraction and Phacoemulsification Lens Removal in Combined Proceducre of Glaucoma with Cataract Patients

Fourty-one glaucoma triple surgeries(Group I: combined trabeculectomy, planned extracapsular cataract extraction(P-ECCE) 27 cases and Group II: phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens(PC IOL) implantation 14 cases) were reviewed. Preoperatively, the two groups did not differ significantly in terms of age, sex, or mean intraocular pressure(IOP). As comparaed with Group I, the Group II had earlier visual rehabilitation, and less postoperative IOP spikes(P<0.05), and needed less postoperative antiglaucoma medications. Other postoperative complications occurred more commonly in the Group I: fibrinous iritis, posterior capsular opacity, encapsulated or flattened bleb, uncontrolled IOP etc. Compared to group II, these differences probably are attitutable primarily to the small incision used in phacoemulsification, which is associated with sustained anterior chamber depth during the operation, and to the reduction of tissue dissection, reducing the stimulus to wound healing and filtration failure.