Background: The early postoperative inflammation after cataract surgery is
mainly caused by surgical trauma.
Patients and Methods: 450 data-sheets of patients, who were operated for se
nile cataract with small-incision phacoemulsification and in-the-bag implan
tation of a foldable intraocular lens were retrospectively analysed. Postop
erative inflammation was evaluated with the Laser flare-Cell Meter Kowa FC-
1000 on day 1, 3, 7 and 28. All the operations were done with the same phac
omachine model Orbit Oertli. The absolute phacotime was measured, the data
classified in steps of 20 seconds. Statistical analysis was made with the s
tudent's t-test.
Results: In the first postoperative week there is a statistical significant
difference in the flare-values between the groups with short phacotime (up
to 39 seconds) and the group with long phacotimes lover 80 seconds), One m
onth after operation this significance was absent.
Conclusions: The early postoperative inflammation is influenced by the dura
tion of phacoemulsification. Surgical techniques and phacomachines that may
reduce phacotime are helpful with respect to early postoperative inflammat
ion.