Abstract
PURPOSE: To compare corneal endothelial loss in manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) following three different techniques of nucleus delivery (Viscoexpression, Irrigating Vectis, Phacosandwich). SETTING: Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India. DESIGN: Prospective, single blinded, randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Willing patients > 40years of age with immature cataract and posted for MSICS were recruited for the study. Those with systemic or ocular comorbidities which may influence corneal endothelium, dilated pupil size of <5mm, intraoperative complications and postoperative corneal haze were excluded. They were randomly divided to one of the three groups (Group 1- Viscoexpression, Group 2- Irrigating Vectis, Group 3- Phacosandwich) for nucleus delivery. Visual acuity and corneal endothelial parameters were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively at 6-8weeks. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients with mean age of 59.13 ± 9.42 years (range 40-82years) were studied with 30 patients in each group. Following MSICS there was a 12.12% (p=0.001) endothelial cell loss. It was 10.81% in viscoexpression group, 11.3% in irrigating vectis group and 14.28% in phacosandwich group. Post hoc analysis with Dunn Bon ferroni test showed endothelial cell loss following viscoexpression and irrigating vectis methods of nucleus delivery were comparable (p=0.096) and significantly lesser (p<0.001) than in Phacosandwich group. CONCLUSION: There was significant endothelial cell loss following MSICS. Nucleus delivery by viscoexpression and irrigating vectis had similar endothelial cell loss while it was greater with phacosandwich technique.