Posters

Safety and efficacy of hypertonic saline solution (5%) in the treatment of postoperative corneal edema after uneventful phacoemulsification: a prospective randomized double-blind trial

Poster Details

First Author: A.Tzamalis UK

Co Author(s):    E. Oustoglou   M. Dermenoudi   A. Matsou   P. Brazitikos           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To assess the safety and efficacy of postoperative administration of hypertonic saline solution (NaCl 5%) after uncomplicated cataract extraction by means of phacoemulsification.

Setting:

2nd Department of Ophthalmology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece

Methods:

176 eyes of 176 patients,who underwent uneventful phacoemulsification,were enrolled in this prospective,randomized,double-blind study,and were randomly allocated (by a sequential randomization process) into two groups; Group1 subjects (treatment group) received at post-operative day 1 hypertonic NaCl 5% solution in single-dose units,administered three times daily for 10 days,while Group2 (control group) received identical single-dose units of normal saline solution(0.9%) at the same frequency,besides ordinary post-operative treatment. All patients underwent central corneal thickness measurement(AS-OCT),endothelial cell count measurement(specular microscopy),assessment of best corrected visual acuity and clinical staging of postoperative corneal edema(OCTET Scale). Measurements were performed at baseline and 1,4,9 and 30 days after phacoemulsification.

Results:

Central corneal thickness(CCT) increased by 132,31�Â�±95,62 �Î�¼m (24.71%) on postoperative day1, without any statistically significant difference between study groups (p>0.05). At day4, postoperative corneal edema showed statistically greater decline in the treatment group (11.15%) compared to Group2 (7.42%) both in pachymetry (p=0.02) and clinical staging (p=0.04). Similar results were recorded at the 9th postoperative day, in subjects demonstrating a CCT of >600�Î�¼m in the 1st postoperative day. Endothelial cell loss, measured one month postoperatively, showed no statistically significant difference between the treatment and the control group (p=0.47). No adverse events were recorded in relation to treatment.

Conclusions:

The use of 5% hypertonic saline solution is found to be a safe and effective adjunct in the management of postoperative corneal edema after uneventful phacoemulsification, achieving rapid corneal clearance and expediting a good visual outcome, especially in cases with marked postoperative edema.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE