Diathermic Capsulotomy for Phacoemulsification in Hypermature Cataract

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the result of diathermic capsulotomy for phacoemulsification in hypermature intumescent cataracts, we retrospectively studied 34 patients(35 eyes) who were operated from January 1995 to February 1997. Central corneal endothelia cell counts were taken preoperatively and 2 months postoperatively by non-contact specular microscopy and endothelial cell loss(%) was calculated. The anterior capsular radial tear occurred in 24 eyes(68%), posterior capsular rupture occurred in 1 eye(2.9%) and the percentage of postoperative endothelial cell loss was 6.45(+/-7.27)%. The high rate of anterior capsular radialtear was due to altered mechanical integrity of the diathermic capsulotomy edge. But the thermal effect on the corneal endothelium was minute. Based on these findings, the diathermic capsulotomy for phacoemulsification in hypermature intumescent cataracts is very useful technique.