Purpose: To evaluate the influence on postoperative inflammation of lens ep
ithelial cell (LEC) removal after phacoemulsification.
Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
.
Methods: This randomized prospective single-surgeon study comprised 60 pati
ents with senile cataract only. After a temporal clear corneal incision was
made and phacoemulsification performed, no LECs were removed in Group A, L
ECs in the nasal half were removed in Group B, and LECs were removed from t
he entire anterior capsule in Group C. The LECs were removed with a Rentsch
capsule curette (Geuder), In all eyes, a foldable hydrogel intraocular len
s (Hydroview((R)), Bausch & Lomb) was implanted. Anterior chamber flare was
evaluated through dilated pupils in a double-masked fashion using a Kowa F
C-1000 laser flare-cell meter (LFCM). Measurements were done preoperatively
as well as 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperat
ively.
Results: In all 3 groups, the flare and cell values increased on the first
postoperative day followed by a successive decrease thereafter. One month a
fter surgery, the blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) was nearly restored in all gr
oups. Between the first and fourth week, the flare values in Groups B and C
were slightly lower than in Group A; however, mean flare and cell values a
mong groups were not statistically significantly different at any measureme
nt.
Conclusion: The removal of LECs from the anterior capsule with a Rentsch cu
rette did not influence postoperative BAB changes detected using an LFCM. (
C) 2001 ASCRS and ESCRS.