RESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of ultrasounds used in phacoemulsification during cataract surgery on the corneal structure and morphology in patients over 65 years. We compared the outcomes of phacoemulsification techniques in terms of corneal cell morphology in 77 patients over 65 years old and 43 patients under 65 years old. Corneal cell density, central corneal thickness and hexagonality were measured preoperatively and post-surgery (at 1 and 4 weeks) by specular microscopy. The effect of gender, axial length and anterior chamber depth on the parameters of corneal endothelium were evaluated. In both groups, a progressive decrease in endothelial cells was observed, starting from the first week post-surgery until the fourth postoperative week. The central corneal thickness increased in both groups with maximum values at the first week postoperatively, while their initial values were restored in the fourth week post-surgery, with no statistical difference between groups. Statistically significant differences were noticed in terms of cell hexagonality in the group over 65, showing smaller hexagonality at all preoperative and postoperative time points compared to group under 65. Our result highlights the importance of routine specular microscopy performed before surgery, regardless the age of the patients, with caution and careful attention to the phaco power intensity, ultrasound energy consumption and intraoperative manipulation of instruments, as well as proper use of viscoelastic substances to reduce corneal endothelium damage, especially in elderly patients.
RESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of phacoemulsification cataract surgery on the state of the corneal endothelium in diabetic versus non-diabetic patients. We compared the corneal cell morphology in 48 diabetics with good glycemic control and 72 non-diabetic patients before and after uneventful phacoemulsification. Corneal cell density, central corneal thickness, and hexagonality were measured preoperatively and post-surgery (at 1 and 4 weeks) by specular microscopy. The effect of age, gender, axial length, and anterior chamber depth on the parameters of the corneal endothelium were evaluated. We noticed a drop in the endothelial density in both groups postoperatively: a mean endothelial cell loss of 472.7 ± 369.1 in the diabetic group was recorded versus 165.7 ± 214.6 mean loss in the non-diabetic group after the first week. A significant increase in central corneal thickness was also noticed in both groups one week after phacoemulsification, but no statistical significance after 4 weeks in the diabetic group. In terms of cell hexagonality, statistically significant differences were noticed after 4 weeks in both groups. Overall, a significant difference between diabetic and non-diabetic population was noticed in terms of corneal endothelial cell loss after uneventful phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Routine specular microscopy and HbA1c evaluation is recommended before cataract surgery, while intraoperative precautions and high monitorisation in terms of pacho power intensity and ultrasound energy, along with a proper application of the dispersive viscoelastic substances are essential to reduce the risk of endothelial damage.
RESUMO
The objective of this study was to enhance the corneal permeation of gatifloxacin (GTX) using cubosomal nanoparticle as a delivery system. Cubosomal nanoparticle loaded with GTX was prepared and subjected for in vitro and in vivo investigations. The prepared GTX-loaded cubosomal particles exhibited nanoparticle size of 197.46 ± 9.40 nm and entrapment efficiency of 52.8% ± 2.93. The results of ex vivo corneal permeation of GTX-loaded cubosomal dispersion show approximately 1.3-fold increase compared to GTX aqueous dispersion. The incorporation of GTX into cubosomal particles resulted in a fourfold reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value for the GTX cubosomal particles relative to GTX aqueous dispersion. Furthermore, the enhanced corneal penetration of GTX-loaded cubosomal dispersion compared was evident by a significant decrease in the area % of corneal opacity in MRSA infected rats. Moreover, these results were confirmed by photomicrographs of histological structures of corneal tissues from rats treated with GTX-cubosomal dispersion which did not present any change compared to that of the normal rat corneas. In conclusion, treatment of ocular bacterial infections and reduction in the probability of development of new resistant strains of MRSA could be accomplished with GTX-loaded cubosomal nanoparticles.