Comparison of changes in corneal endothelial cell density and central corneal thickness between conventional and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery: a randomised, controlled clinical trial.

Background/aim: To identify changes in endothelial cell density (ECD) and central corneal thickness (CCT) in eyes undergoing femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) compared with conventional phacoemulsification surgery (CPS).

Methods: This is an intraindividual randomised, controlled clinical trial. One eye was randomised to receive FLACS, while the contralateral eye of the same patient received CPS. The femtosecond laser pretreatment included creating main and side-port corneal incisions, capsulotomy and lens fragmentation. Non-contact endothelial cell microscopy and pachymetry were performed preoperatively and at postoperative day 1, week 1, month 1 and month 3.

Results: A total of 134 paired eyes from 67 patients were included in the analysis. ECD was not significantly different between the two groups at either postoperative month 1 (2370±580 cells/mm2 and 2467±564 cells/mm2 in FLACS and CPS groups, respectively; p=0.18) or at postoperative month 3 (2374±527 cells/mm2 and 2433±526 cells/mm2 in FLACS and CPS groups, respectively; p=0.19). No significant difference was observed in the mean CCT values between the two groups over the follow-up period (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Postoperative corneal ECD and CCT were comparable between FLACS and CPS during the 3 months' follow-up period.