[Evaluation by laser flare meter of the inflammatory response after cataract surgery]

To prospectively evaluate use of the laser flare meter the inflammatory response after phacoemulsification with four different types of intraocular lenses.

Measurements with the Kowa laser flare meter FC-500 were done before surgery and at 1, 6 and 21 days following standard phacoemulsification with corneal incision in 157 patients. The patients were randomized in four groups to receive HSM IOL (group I), foldable acrylic IOL (group II), foldable three-piece silicone (group III), and foldable single-piece silicone (group IV).

Overall, mean flare values were increased at D1, and decreased rapidly to normal values at D21. Intragroup analysis showed a slight increase of flare value observed in the PMMA group (p = 0.0015) and silicone monobloc group (p = 0.001) at D21 compared to D0. There was no statistical difference found between D0 and D21 in the acrylic and the silicone three pieces groups. At D1, a significant increase of flare values was observed in the PMMA (28.9 ph/ms) and silicone three pieces (28.8 ph/ms) groups, as compared to silicone monobloc group (22 ph/ms). At D21, the acrylic group had a significantly lower mean value than PMMA and silicone monobloc groups. No statistical difference was observed between acrylic and three-piece silicone at D21.

This study shows that the inflammation in the four groups was very low after phacoemulsification by a corneal incision and attempts to explain the impact of the incision length on the breakdown of blood-aqueous barrier.