REDUCTION OF ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS DURING CAT ARACT-SURGERY USING THYMOXAMINE VERSUS ACETYLCHOLINE INTRAOCULARLY - A RANDOMIZED DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY

Background: Thymoxamine, an alpha-(1)-receptor blocker, considerably e nhances miosis when given intraocularly in combination with acetylchol ine. We investigated whether intraocular use of thymoxamine 0.02% redu ced the number of endothelial cells. Patients and methods: After phaco emulsification of 59 eyes, either thymoxamine 0.02%, acetylcholine 1.0 % or buffered saline solution was given intraocularly. With a contact specular microscope, corneal endothelial cell photographs were taken o n the day before treatment and 3 days and 6 weeks after surgery. Resul ts:There were no statistically significant differences between endothe lial cell counts of eyes treated with thymoxamine (-7.2%), acetylcholi ne (-10.2%) or BSS (-9.4%). Conclusion: This study shows for the first time that thymoxamine, when given in the anterior chamber after phaco emulsification, does not cause a greater loss of endothelial cells tha n acetylcholine or buffered saline solution.