Gopal Janaswamy, Abhay Vasavada, Raminder Singh.
Viscoelastic Shield in Phacoemulsification: An Approach in Low Corneal Endothelial Count Patients.
Pak J Ophthalmol Jan ;13(2):41-3.

To assess the results of phaeoemulsification in low corneal endothelial count patients. (1000 cells/mm2 or less). In this technique of phacoemulsification, 2% Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (2% HPMC) is injected in the anterior chamher every minute during the phacoemulsification procedure to provide a shield of viscoelastic to protect the vulnerable endothelium. settings: lladevi Cataract & IOL Research Centre, Ahmedabad, India. Method: This prospective study evaluated 14 patients having low corneal endothelial count. These patients were subjected to non-contact specular microscopy in 5 different locations and patients having average corneal endothelial cell count less than or equal to 10110 cells per square mm were included in this study. Central corneal thickness was obtained by ultrasonic (U/S) pachymeter. In the postoperative period, specular microscopy (in 5 different locations) and central corneal thickness by U/S pachymeter were measured at I month, 3 months and 1 year. Result: Average corneal endothelial cell count at the end of I year was 755 cells/mm (range 705-938) with 13.71% of endothelial cell loss as compared to average preoperative corneal endothelial cell count of875 cells/mm2. Conclusion: Providing a viscoelastic shield during phacoemulsification is beneficial inpatients with low corneal endothelial count.

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