DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES OF EXTRACAPSULAR CATARACT-EXTRACTION - BACTERIAL-CONTAMINATION DURING SURGERY - PROSPECTIVE-STUDY ON 230 CONSECUTIVE PATIENTS

This study was performed to investigate the correlation between the co ntamination of the anterior chamber and the technique of extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). Three different methods were used: uncomp licated planned ECCE, phacoemulsification involving suturing method, a nd sutureless technique. All patients had posterior chamber intraocula r lenses implanted. Two hundred and thirty consecutive patients were i ncluded in this prospective study, and preoperative smears of the conj unctiva and intraoperative aspirates of the anterior chamber were inve stigated. Samples of the aqueous humor were taken at the beginning and at. the end of the operation. Cultures were incubated and held for 14 days. More than 71% of the preoperative smears were contaminated by c oagulase-negative staphylococci, the most commonly isolated bacteria. However, 27% of the patients had culture-positive anterior chamber asp irates intraoperatively, also with coagulase-negative staphylococci as the most frequent organisms. In no case did postoperative endophthalm itis develop. Preliminary results in a small population show that the contamination of the aqueous humor is statistically significantly less frequent if the cataract extraction is performed by phacoemulsificati on than if it is done without phacoemulsification. Another interesting finding is that anterior chamber contamination is not significantly m ore frequent, if a sutureless technique is used for cataract surgery.