FACTORS DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF CORNEAL ENDOTHELIAL CELLS LOSS DURING PHACOEMULSIFICATION SURGERY

To summarize the factors affecting the loss of corneal endothelial cells during phamoemulsification cataract surgery.

Review of recent bibliography.

Bibliography search in articles describing:

Pre-operative conditions resulting into an initially reduced corneal endothelial cells count.

Intra-operative factors and phaco techniques and their role in either the preservation or the loss of endothelial cells.

Post- operative conditions/ complications resulting in further damage of endothelial cells.

There is a variety of intra-operative and post- operative factors affecting the remaining population of corneal endothelial cells after phaco cataract surgery and subsequently the clarity of the cornea and the patients' final visual acuity.

Cataract surgeons should always take in account the risk factors and adapt their phaco technique and practices in order to minimize the loss of corneal endothelial cells.