Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Author Spotlight: Unraveling the Molecular Mechanisms in PCO and Fibrosis Following Cataract Surgery
Published on: December 1, 2023
Quantitative evaluation of corneal epithelial edema after cataract surgery using corneal densitometry: a prospective
Sho Ishikawa1,2, Naoko Kato3,4, Masaru Takeuchi4
1Department of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical University, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama, Saitama, 350-0495, Japan. sho_ijp@yahoo.co.jp.
Purpose:
The optical density of the cornea can be evaluated quantitatively by "densitometry" using a rotating Scheimpflug camera. Densitometry allows evaluation of corneal opacity in the anterior segment of the eye by quantitative measurement of scattering light. In the present investigation, we evaluate quantitatively minimal subclinical corneal edema after cataract surgery using densitometry.
Methods:
Fifty four eyes of 34 patients who underwent cataract surgery were enrolled. Measurement of corneal density was performed using Pentacam® before and on days 1, 3 and 7 after surgery.
Results:
Densitometry scores increased from 18.12 ± 1.76 before cataract surgery to 21.03 ± 3.84 on day 1 (P < 0.001) and 19.90 ± 2.46 on day 3 (P = 0.018), but recovered to 19.44 ± 1.58 on day 7 (P = 0.131). Total corneal thickness was 549.1 ± 32.7 μm before surgery and increased to 582.7 ± 46.3 μm on day 1 (P = 0.001), but recovered to 566.4 ± 29.7 μm on day 3 (P = 0.097). Densitometry reading correlated positively with corneal thickness (correlation coefficient = 0.13, P = 0.003).
Conclusions:
Densitometry is useful to detect corneal edema that is not detectable by slit-lamp examination.
Related Concept Videos
Case Studies
Epithelial Tissues and Their Functions
Epithelial tissues provide the body's first line of protection from physical,...
Quantitative Analysis
In quantitative analysis, two key measurements are made: the sample quantity and a property proportional to the amount of the analyte (the substance being analyzed). This forms the basis of the...
Classification of Epithelial Tissues: Overview
Based on the number of cell layers,...
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Classification of Epithelial Tissues: Stratified Epithelium

