The role of various factors in the development of postoperative corneal edema in patients after cataract phacoemulsification

Purpose. To evaluate influence of various factors on the development of corneal edema in patients after cataract phacoemulsification (PE). Material and methods. The object of this study were patients with a diagnosis of cataract referred to the Orenburg branch of the S. Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Federal State Institution to provide specialized medical care (n=49). Inclusion criteria: uncomplicated cataract without lens subluxation, no need for suturing an intraocular lens (IOL) and application of various iris retractors. The following features (factors) were evaluated: gender; age; anatomical structure of orbit (normal or deep); working conditions that have a negative impact on the organ of vision; general somatic, endocrine, chronic infectious and autoimmune diseases; values of the anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, anterior-posterior axis, intraocular pressure before surgery; the number of endothelial cells before surgery; degree of maturity of the cataract according to Buratto classification; duration of surgery (minutes); total time of exposure to ultrasound (US) in seconds; level of US (%); volume of irrigation solution BSS (ml); type of IOL (hydrophilic, hydrophobic); the presence of air in anterior chamber; presence of corneal edema in the early postoperative period. Results. Based on the results of surgical treatment of 49 cataract patients, corneal edema was detected in 15 cases (30%). According to this study, significant differences were established between the compared groups of patients in terms of the depth of the anterior chamber, as well as differences in some factors with a level of statistical significance close to acceptable (age (p=0.07); lens thickness (p=0.07); cataract maturity degree (p=0.096)). Conclusion. Patients with corneal edema in the early postoperative period after PE were significantly different from patients without edema in terms of the following factors: ultrasound exposure time (p=0.01), anterior chamber depth (p=0.02), IOL type (hydrophilic, hydrophobic) (p=0.002). A close to acceptable level of statistical significance of factors such as age (p=0.07), lens thickness (p=0.07), cataract maturity degree (p=0.096) can also indicate their influence on the development of postoperative corneal edema. Key words: cataract phacoemulsification, postoperative corneal edema