AIM: To explore the effect of different incision phacoemulsification on corneal endothelial function and tear film function in senile cataract(SC)patients.

METHODS: Totally 90 SC patients(90 eyes)admitted to our hospital were randomly divided into the 2.2mm group(n=47, 47 eyes, 2.2mm corneal micro-incision phacoemulsification)and the 3.0mm group(n=43, 43 eyes, 3.0 mm clear corneal micro-incision phacoemulsification). The indexes of corneal endothelial function and tear film function were compared between the two groups before and after operation.

RESULTS: There was no statistical difference on the average phacoemulsification time(APT), mean effective phacoemulsification time(EPT), average phacoemulsification energy(AVE)and preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure between the two groups(P>0.05). There were statistical differences on the tear break-up time(BUT), basal tear secretion test(ST-Ⅱ), corneal sodium fluorescein staining(SCSF)score, corneal endothelial cell count, central corneal thickness and the variation coefficient of corneal endothelial cells between the two groups(P<0.05). At 1wk and 1mo after operation, the BUT in the two groups was significantly lower than that before operation(P<0.05)while the ST-Ⅱ was significantly higher than that before operation(P<0.05), and the SCSF first increased and then decreased(P<0.05), and corneal endothelial cell count was significantly lower than that before operation(P<0.05), and the central corneal thickness and the variation coefficient of corneal endothelial cells significantly increased(P<0.05). The changed degrees of BUT, ST-Ⅱ, SCSF score, corneal endothelial cell count, central corneal thickness and corneal endothelial cell variation coefficient in the 2.2mm group were less than those in the 3.0mm group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Phacoemulsification for SC patients can cause some damage in corneal endothelial function and tear film function, and 2.2mm corneal micro-incision have less damage and faster early recovery.