Posters

The corneal endothelium in children after congenital cataract surgery: comparison of pre and postoperative results

Poster Details

First Author: A.Swiatowska POLAND

Co Author(s):    M. Formińska-Kapuścik   E. Filipek   E. Porwik        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

The purpose of this paper is to present the distribution of endothelial cells of different shape in corneas of healthy eyes, corneas in the eyes with cataract and the comparison of these parameters. Also, the aim of this study is to compare preoperative and postoperative corneal parameters after congenital cataract surgery.

Setting:

Medical University of Silesia, University Hospital number 5, Department of Ophthalmology.

Methods:

The research group consisted of 33 children's eyes with congenital cataract. Detailed interviews were collected from patients enrolled in the study and their parents. Research taken into account: visual acuity for distance checked by using the Snellen charts, front section of the eye examined using a slit lamp, and the parameters obtained with the help of an endothelial microscope (polimegatism and pleomorphism); were carried out one day before and three months after surgery with removing the lens with simultaneous implantation of artificial intraocular lens. The control group consisted of 22 healthy, accompanying eyes. Criteria for inclusion: Congenital cataract, age under 18 years. Criteria for exclusion: Patients with active, or a history of inflammatory process within the eyeball (exception of conjunctivitis),patients wearing contact lenses, with a history of surgery, with ocular diseases associated, patients with general diseases, patients with ocular trauma.

Results:

Three months after surgery the research group showed significantly statistical improvement in visual acuity, a statistically significant decrease in corneal endothelial cell density, a statistically significant increase in the percentage of 5 and 8 sided cells and a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of six sided cells. Other parameters: Central corneal thickness and the percentage of 4 and 7 and more than 8 sided did not change in a statistically significant way. Comparing the test group and control group, no statistically significant differences were detected in the examined parameters. Pleomorphism and polimegatism in the test and control group showed no statistically significant differences.

Conclusions:

The data above indicates that the most sensitive parameter provides information about the changes and the state of the cornea are 5 and 6 sided cells and the changes of endothelial cell density. 8 sided cells also serve as a sensitive indicator of changes in the cornea subjected to surgery. It has not been described or studied the above relations. The present study also shows that the cornea in the eyes with congenital cataract does not show statistically significant changes in the density and the morphology of the corneal endothelial cells and the thickness of the cornea and in terms of corneal thickness in comparison to the corneas of healthy eyes. Although in corneas undergoing cataract occurs statistically significant changes the influence of the cornea does not affect the improvement in visual acuity which was also demonstrated in this study. This suggests that cataract surgery in children with using irrigation and aspiration is a safe procedure. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE