Central corneal thickness changes in bevel-up versus bevel-down phacoemulsification cataract surgery: study protocol...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Techniques
• Corneal Health

Background:

• Corneal endothelial damage is a significant concern in phacoemulsification cataract surgery.
• Existing techniques aim to minimize damage, but risks persist.
• The optimal phaco tip orientation (bevel-up vs. bevel-down) remains debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare postoperative central corneal thickness changes between bevel-up and bevel-down phacoemulsification techniques.
• To evaluate the impact of phaco tip orientation on corneal endothelium protection.
• To provide evidence-based guidance for cataract surgery procedures.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, triple-blinded, randomized controlled trial with 1:1 allocation.
• Two parallel groups: bevel-up phacoemulsification and bevel-down phacoemulsification.
• Sample size of 55 patients per group, conducted in a tertiary care hospital.

Main Results:

• Postoperative central corneal thickness changes will be the primary outcome measure.
• Data analysis will compare endothelial cell loss between the two techniques.
• Results are pending as the trial is in the pre-results phase.

Conclusions:

• The study aims to determine if bevel-down phacoemulsification offers superior corneal protection.
• Findings will contribute to optimizing phacoemulsification techniques for patient safety.
• Evidence-based recommendations for surgical practice will be provided.