Posters

Effectiveness of soft contact lens usage for protection of corneal epithelium during phacoemulsification

Poster Details

First Author: A.Vasilyev RUSSIA

Co Author(s): S. Tonkonogii   A. Egorova                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Injury of corneal epithelium during ophthalmic operations can lead to the development of dry eye syndrome. Thus, the purpose of our work was to study the effectiveness of soft contact lens (SCL) usage during phacoemulsification (PE) in patients with senile cataract.

Setting:

The work was performed in the Khabarovsk branch of the Federal State Autonomous Institution «S.N. Fedorov National Medical Research Center «MNTK «Eye Microsurgery» of the Ministry of Health of the Russia

Methods:

100 patients (100 eyes) after PE of senile cataract were under observation. There were 2 observation groups: 1st (main) – 50 patients (50 eyes) to whom 0.1% riboflavin solution was instilled, SCL was applied on the cornea surface and then standard PE was performed. 50 patients (50 eyes) of the 2nd (control group) underwent standard PE. Evaluation of corneal epithelium condition was performed using biomicroscopy with fluorescein staining 3-4 hours after operation, then on the next postoperative day. OCT pachymetric mapping of cornea using “PachymetryWide” program (Avanti RTVue XR, Optovue) was done before operation and on the next postoperative day.

Results:

Visible epithelial defects were found in 8 eyes (16%) of the 1st group and 27 eyes (54%) of the 2nd group 3-4 hours after surgical intervention. On the next postoperative day only 1 eye (2%) in the 1st group in comparison with 7 eyes (14%) in the 2nd group had visible defect of corneal epithelium. There were 3 eyes (6%) in the 1st group and 22 eyes (44%) in the 2nd group with areas of epithelial thinning according to OCT mapping.

Conclusions:

Our research showed that SCL using during PE is a very effective method of intraoperative protection of corneal epithelium.

Financial Disclosure:

None