Endothelial barrier function after phacoemulsification: a comparison between diabetic and non-diabetic patients

In all, 21 diabetic and 23 non-diabetic patients underwent endothelial fluorophotometry before and at 4 days, 3 weeks and 6 weeks after phacoemulsification with posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL: PMMA) implantation. After topical fluorescein instillation, fluorophotometry was performed using an automated computerized fluorophotometer. The aim of this study was to assess early postoperative endothelial damage quantitatively and to detect possible differences between diabetic and non-diabetic patients in that regard. Preoperatively, the endothelial permeability of diabetic patients did not differ from that of non-diabetic individuals (P = 0.5). At 4 days after phacoemulsification with posterior chamber IOL implantation, endothelial permeability was significantly increased in both groups (P less than 0.001), but significantly more so in diabetic patients (P less than 0.001). The endothelial barrier function had fully recovered 3 weeks after surgery in non-diabetic subjects and 6 weeks after surgery in diabetic patients as well.