Abstract

FERNANDEZ VASQUEZ, Gilberto et al. Comparative study of the anatomical and functional results of two cataract surgical management techniques: extracapsular extraction of the crystalline and phacoemulsification. Rev Cubana Oftalmol [online]. 2007, vol.20, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3070.

The shift of a simpler surgical technique to a more complex procedure is a real challenge, even more if this technique requires a difficult mechanism of adapting to new clinical and technological criteria and the learning curve is also extensive and difficult. This is the case of the transition of extracapsular extraction of the crystalline to phacoemulsification in the surgical management of the cataract.  Our study was intended to compare anatomic and functional results of two cataract surgical management modalities, that is, extracapsular extraction of the crystalline ECEC and phacoemulsification, in addition to assess postoperative visual acuity with/without spectacles and  the refractive  and /or  keratometric cylinder after surgery; also to compare the morphological and morphometric changes after implementing these types of surgery in the cell population of the corneal endothelium, and to list the commonest complications.  A prospective, comparative and descriptive study was performed in 100 eyes affected by cataract and operated on by ECEC (50 eyes) and by phacoemulsification (50 eyes) from January 2005 to January 2006, which were included in two study groups according to the approved inclusion criteria and followed up postoperatively for three months at the Center of Eye Microsurgery of “Ramon Pando Ferrer” Cuban Ophthalmologic Institute. The analyzed variables were age, visual acuity with the spectacles, induced astigmatism, endothelial cell count and transoperative complications. Corrected and non-corrected visual acuity was higher in phacoemulsification-treated eyes. Visual recovery occurred much earlier, induced astigmatism was lower and final refractive and keratometric cylinder was also lower in phacoemulsification-operated eyes. The patients who underwent phacoemulsification surgical technique exhibited less corneal endothelium deterioration although the number of transoperative and postoperative complications was higher.

Keywords : Phacoemulsification; extracapsular extraction of the crystalline; refractive cylinder; keratometric cylinder; endothelial microscopy.