AIM: To research the protective effect of reverse phacoemulsification on corneal endothelium in cataract surgery.

METHODS: Sixty patients(60 eyes)with senile cataract were randomly divided into two groups, the conventional phacoemulsification group and the reverse phacoemulsification group. The preoperative general and special ophthalmic examinations were routinely conducted. The gender, age, grade of nuclear hardness, corneal endothelial counts, intraocular pressure, anterior chamber depth, and axis shaft of each patient were carefully recorded. The phacoemulsification and the foldable intraocular lens implantation of two groups were individually accomplished through conventional phacoemulsification and reverse phacoemulsification. The average ultrasonic energy and the valid ultrasound time of phacoemulsification during operation were recorded, the average compound ultrasonic energy(average ultrasonic energy × valid ultrasound time)was finally calculated, and surgical complications during operation were recorded at the same time. The corneal endothelial counts and intraocular pressure of two groups were inspected at postoperative 3d.

RESULTS: According to statistics, there was no significant difference for patients with basic situation between two groups(P>0.05). After treatment with different phacoemulsification methods, the intraocular pressure at postoperative 3d and the accepted average compound ultrasonic energy of patients were showed no significant differences(t=-0.95, P=0.924>0.05; t=0.34, P=0.735>0.05). However, there was significant difference for loss number of corneal endothelial at postoperative 3d(t=-9.89, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: The protective effect of reverse phacoemulsification on corneal endothelial and decreasing damages is better than that of the conventional phacoemulsification, and it is worth of popularization in clinical practice.