Corneal involvement in uneventful cataract surgery: an in vivo confocal microscopy study

Purpose: To evaluate corneal subbasal layer changes after uneventful cataract surgery by means of in vivo confocal microscopy. Methods: This prospective study included 30 patients. Before surgery, and 1, 3, 6, 8 and 10 months after cataract surgery, all patients underwent a complete ophthalmological and confocal microscopy examination in the central and temporal corneal areas. Number of fibers, beading, tortuosity and reflectivity were analyzed. Results: Important changes were shown in the central cornea up to 3 months after surgery: a reduction in nerve fiber number (baseline: 4.4 +/- 1.7; month 1:1.2 +/- 0.5, p < 0.0001; month 3:2.5 +/- 1.2, p < 0.005) and reflectivity (baseline: 3.6 +/- 0.5; month 1:1.4 +/- 0.6, p < 0.0001; month 3:1.9 +/- 0.9, p < 0.0001), and an increase in beading (baseline: 0.3 +/- 0.5 beads/100 mu m(2); month 1:2.7 +/- 0.6 beads/100 mu m(2), p < 0.0001; month 3:2.6 +/- 0.5 beads/100 mu m(2), p < 0.0001). The confocal parameters completely progressively recovered thereafter (60% at 6 months, 87% at 8 and 10 months). The temporal plexus was absent at 1 month and fully recovered in all patients at month 8. Conclusion: Uneventful cataract surgery induces relevant corneal modifications when inspected by means of confocal microscopy. (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel