Effects of Air Bubble on the Corneal Endothelium

ABSTRACT

During intraocular surgery including cataract, air bubbles occasionally enter the anterior chamber during irrigation. The influences of these air bubbles on the cornea endothelium, however, have yet to be known. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of bubbles on the rabbit corneal endothelium during irrigation and aspiration mode in experimental phacoemulsification. After anesthesia, the anterior chamber was irrigated and aspirated for 1 minute with balanced salt solution. The rabbits were then randomly divided into 4 groups. In group 1, corneal endothelial irrigation and aspiration were performed without air bubbles for 1 minute. In group 2, corneal endothelial irrigation was performed in the presence of air bubbles in the anterior chamber for 1 minute. In group 3, corneal endothelial irrigation and aspiration were performed in the presence of air bubbles in the anterior chamber for 1minute. In group 4, corneal endothelial irrigation was performed with silicone oil at 50 mmHg pressure in the presence of air bubbles in the anterior chamber for 1 minute. In group 1, the cornea endothelial cells showed normal F-actin without cell damage. In group 2, a ring shaped endothelial cell destruction area adjacent to the border was found along the margin of the air bubble. In group 3, similar ring-shaped lesion found in group 2 were observed but with more extensive cell destruction. In group 4, a partial number of cell to cell separation was found without endothelial cell destruction. In conclusion, air bubbles in the anterior chamber during irrigation with balanced salt solution showed destructive changes in rabbit corneal endothelial cell.