[Endothelial damage after planned extracapsular cataract extraction and phacoemulsification of hard cataracts]. / Estudo do endotélio corneano em cirurgias de cataratas duras: extração extracapsular planejada da catarata e facoemulsificação.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the endothelial damage after planned extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and phacoemulsification of very hard cataracts. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized study, 41 patients with age-related and very hard cataract were divided into two groups: in group 1 (21 patients) an extracapsular cataract extraction was performed and in group 2 (20 patients), phacoemulsification. In both groups, intraocular lenses were implanted in the capsular bag. Preoperatively and 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively, a complete ophthalmological examination, endothelial specular microscopy, and ultrasonic pachymetry were done. Endothelial cell loss, pleomorphism, polymegathism and corneal thickness were studied. RESULTS: Both groups presented an endothelial cell loss in the postoperative time, as compared with the preoperative values, but there were no significant differences among the postoperative values (1, 3 and 6 months). Six months after surgery, mean cell loss was 28.50% in group 1 and 34.77% in group 2. There were no differences among the indexes of pachymetry, polymegathism and pleomorphism between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Endothelial response was not statistically different between the two studied groups.