The Effect of Intraocular 1% Lidocaine on the Corneal Endothelium during Phacoemulsification

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of intraocular 1% lidocaine as an adjunct to topical anesthesia on corneal endothelial cell during phacoemulcification. We evaluated 38 patients(50 eyes). All patients underwent phacoemulsification and PCL implantaion. Twenty five eyes were used intraocular 1% lidocaine and topical anesthesia and others used only topical anesthesia. Endothelial cell density was examind preoperatively, and at 1 day, 1 week, 1 and 2 months postoperatively by specular microscopy. The difference of preoperative endothelial cell density between two groups was not statistically significant. In lidocaine-used group, the average endothelial cell loss was 7. 6%, 9. 2%, 10.4%, 10.6%at 1 day, 1 week, 1 and 2 months. In non used group, the average endothelial cell loss was 7. 4%, 9. 4%, 9. 9%, 11. 7%at 1 day, 1 week, 1 and 2 months. The difference of postoperative endothelial cell density between two groups was not statistically significant(P>0.1). From these results, we conclude that the intraocular lidocaine infusion for anesthesia had little effect on the corneal endothelial cell loss.