AIM:To observe the changes of corneal endothelium after phacoemulsification cataract surgery in different types of cataract patients.

METHODS: Randomly selected age-related cataract, diabetic cataract and cataract of high myopia 30 eyes of 30 cases, respectively, in our hospital. All patients underwent phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation, corneal endothelial density and the percentage of hexagonal cells were measured by corneal endothelial cell instrument without touching before surgery and one week after surgery.

RESULTS: The difference of the preoperative corneal endothelial cell density and the percentage of hexagonal cells among three groups were not statistically significant(P>0.05). One week after surgery, the cell density in three groups were respectively 2 496.86±298.96/mm², 2 379.51±375.13/mm², 2 425.38±312.68/mm², the percentage of hexagonal cells were respectively(46.20±12.03)%,(43.44±13.99)%,(44.35±8.13)%. Both the cell density and the percentage of hexagonal cells one week after surgery were lower than those before operation. There were significant difference in three groups(P<0.05). Both the measurements in diabetic cataract group and cataract of high myopia group after surgery were lower than those in age-related cataract group, the cell density and the percentage of hexagonal cells in diabetic cataract group were lower obviously compared with those in age-related cataract group and the difference was significant(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The tolerance of corneal endothelial cell to phacoemulsification cataract surgery is lower in cataract with diabetes and high myopia. Corneal endothelium should be assessed preoperatively and protected intraoperatively.