AIM: To Evaluate the effects of different capsulotomy diameters during phacoemulsification on corneal and blood aqueous barrier.

METHODS: Totally 78 cases(100 eyes)with cataract were treated by femtosecond laser assisted phacoemulsification. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. There were 36 cases(50 eyes)in experimental group, in which the capsulotomy diameter was 4.7mm, and 42 cases(50 eyes)in the control group, in which the capsulotomy diameter was 6.0mm. Phacoemulsification power and time were recorded for each procedure. Follow-up exams were performed on 1d, 1wk and 2mo after surgery. Preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity, central corneal thickness, aqueous flare, corneal endothelial cell count were assessed for the two groups.

RESULTS: No significant difference was found on preoperative best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), hardness of the lens nucleus, centrel corneal thickness(CCT)and the effective phaco time and the average phaco power of the two groups(P>0.05). There was also no statistically significant difference on BCVA between the two groups after surgery(P>0.05). The change of central corneal thickness and the aqueous flare cells in the experimental group were less than those in the control group at 1d and 1wk postoperatively(P<0.05), while the difference was not obvious at 2mo after(P>0.05). The rate of lost corneal endothelial cell was significantly lower in the experimental group than the control group at 2mo postoperatively(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: The phacoemulsification with small capsulotomy diameters decreases the injury to the corneal and blood aqueous barrier. The patients recovered more quickly.