INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE AFTER ENDOCAPSULAR PHACOEMULSIFICATION OR CONVENTIONAL EXTRACAPSULAR LENS EXTRACTION IN THE RABBIT EYE

Purpose: We compared the inflammatory response after phacoemulsificati on and conventional extracapsular lens extraction in New Zealand albin o rabbits, Methods: One eye was selected at random and phacoemulsifica tion was performed. Extracapsular lens extraction was done in the fell ow eye. In both eyes a polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens was imp lanted into the capsular bag and the wound was sutured with a 9-0 poly propylene continuous suture. The levels of prostaglandin E2 in aqueous humour and wet mass of the iris-ciliary bodies were measured at day 1 . The number of white blood cells and protein levels in the aqueous hu mour were measured at day 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30. Corneal thickness was es timated with pachymetry. Results: Prostaglandin E2 levels acid wet mas ses of iris-ciliary bodies were significantly higher after extracapsul ar lens extraction, which also induced significantly higher white bloo d cells counts at day 1 and 3 and higher protein levels at day 7. Extr acapsular lens extraction caused more corneal edema at day 3, 7 and 14 . Conclusion: The results suggest that phacoemulsification induced les s surgical trauma with less breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier.