The Effect of Air Bubble on Corneal Endothelium after Phacoemulsification

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the effect of air bubble on the corneal endothelium at the end of the cataract surgery.Methods In this prospective study, patients who underwent cataract surgery with phacoemulsification were separated into two groups. The study group comprised 60 patients with air bubble injected into the anterior chamber at the end of the operation and the control group was formed of 46 patients without air bubble. Endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation (CV), hexagonality rate (6A), and central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements were taken using non-contact specular microscopy (Tomey EM-4000, Nagoya, Japan) preoperatively and at 1 day, 1 week and 1 month postoperatively. The phacoemulsification parameters during the operation were noted.Results No significant difference was determined between the groups preoperatively in respect of mean visual acuity, anterior chamber depth, ECD, CV, 6A, and CCT values ​​ (p > 0.05). The intraoperative average ultrasound power, effective phaco time, and ultrasound time values were similar (p > 0.05). The CCT value was lower in the study group than in the control group on postoperative day 1 (p = 0.021), but similar at 1 week and 1 month (p = 0.208, p = 0.394, respectively). No significant difference was determined between the groups in mean visual acuity, corneal edema, anterior chamber reaction, ECD, CV, and 6A values ​​at 1 day, 1 week and 1 month postoperatively (p > 0.05). Conclusion Although air bubble has no detrimental effect, there is also seen to be no protective effect on the corneal endothelium.