Changes in the Corneal Endothelium in Patients after Phacoemulsification Trabeculectomy
Keywords:
cataract; corneal endothelium; phaco-trabeculectomy; glaucomaAbstract
Objective: To describe corneal endothelium changes in patients who underwent phacoemulsification trabeculectomy.
Methods: A descriptive, prospective, longitudinal study was conducted in patients who underwent phacoemulsification trabeculectomy at the Ramón Pando Ferrer Cuban Institute of Ophthalmology between January 2018 and December 2020. The sample consisted of 82 eyes from 42 patients. Statistical analysis was performed using the arithmetic mean, standard deviation, percentage, and absolute frequency.
Results: The average age was 72.4 years, and females and non-white skin color predominated. Cell density decreased one month and one year after surgery. The coefficient of variability decreased with statistical significance between each interval. Hexagonality decreased one month and one year after surgery. Age greater than or equal to 70 years and preoperative intraocular pressure values greater than or equal to 20 mmHg influenced the loss of corneal endothelial cells.
Conclusions: Phacotrabeculectomy causes changes in endothelial cell density, coefficient of variation, and hexagonality, which appear to be related to general risk factors such as advanced age and elevated intraocular pressure. However, factors associated with the surgical technique must also be considered.
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