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Preoperative and Intraoperative Risk Factors for Short-Term Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss After Phacoemulsification
Tae-Won Yoon1, Joon-Young Kim1
1Department of Veterinary Ophthalmology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
Veterinary Ophthalmology
|September 23, 2025
Summary
Phacoemulsification for canine cataracts caused significant corneal endothelial cell loss, with shorter axial length and longer phacoemulsification time as key risk factors. Corneal thickness changes were not significant.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Ophthalmology
- Ophthalmic Surgery
- Corneal Physiology
Background:
- Phacoemulsification is a common surgical technique for cataract removal in dogs.
- Understanding the impact of phacoemulsification on corneal health is crucial for patient outcomes.
- Corneal endothelial cells are vital for maintaining corneal clarity and hydration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the short-term effects of phacoemulsification on canine corneal endothelial cell density (CED) and central corneal thickness (CCT).
- To identify preoperative and intraoperative risk factors associated with endothelial cell loss after phacoemulsification.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 24 dogs (33 eyes) undergoing phacoemulsification for cataracts.
- Preoperative measurements included age, axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth, and lens thickness (LT).
- Intraoperative parameters such as average phacoemulsification power, absolute phacoemulsification time (APT), and effective phacoemulsification time (EPT) were recorded. CED and CCT were measured preoperatively and one month postoperatively.
Main Results:
- Corneal endothelial cell density (CED) significantly decreased by 16% (345 cells/mm²) one month postoperatively.
- Endothelial cell loss was negatively correlated with AL and LT, and positively correlated with APT and EPT.
- Axial length (AL) and absolute phacoemulsification time (APT) were independent predictors of endothelial cell loss, explaining 35.6% of the variation. Central corneal thickness (CCT) showed a non-significant increase.
Conclusions:
- Phacoemulsification leads to significant short-term corneal endothelial cell loss in dogs.
- Shorter axial length and longer phacoemulsification times (APT, EPT) are identified as risk factors for endothelial cell damage.
- These findings aid in refining surgical techniques and patient selection for canine cataract surgery.
