Corneal endothelial cell loss during phacoemulsification: bevel-up versus bevel-down phaco tip

Abstract

Purpose: To compare corneal endothelial cell loss during cataract extraction by phacoemulsification with 2 different phaco-tip positions.

Setting: Ophthalmic Research Center and Department of Ophthalmology, Labbafinejad Medical Center, Shahid Beheshti Medical University, Tehran, Iran.

Design: Randomized clinical trial.

Methods: Eyes scheduled for cataract extraction were randomly assigned stop-and-chop phacoemulsification with the phaco tip in the conventional bevel-up position or with the phaco tip in the bevel-down position. During surgery, the effective phacoemulsification time (EPT) was recorded. Preoperative endothelial cell parameters were compared with measurements taken 3 months postoperatively.

Results: Each group comprised 30 eyes (30 patients). There were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, anterior chamber depth, axial length, or EPT between the 2 groups. The mean preoperative endothelial cell density (ECD) was 2544 cells/mm(2) ± 64 (SD) in the bevel-up group and 2471 ± 59 cells/mm(2) in the bevel-down group (P=.610). Postoperatively, both groups had a significant decrease in ECD. The mean endothelial cell loss was 5.9% in the bevel-up group and 13.6% in the bevel-down group (P=.012). The percentage of hexagonal cells and coefficient of variation in cell size were not different between the 2 groups preoperatively or postoperatively; however, after surgery, there was a significant decrease in the percentage of hexagonal cells in both groups.

Conclusion: Corneal endothelial cell loss during phacoemulsification was significantly higher when the phaco tip was in the bevel-down position than in the conventional bevel-up position.

Financial disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.