ISSN 2757-8135 | E-ISSN 2757-9816
Comparative assessment of the endothelial toxicity of intracameral cefuroxime after phacoemulsification [Eur Eye Res]
Eur Eye Res. 2022; 2(3): 116-123 | DOI: 10.14744/eer.2022.08108

Comparative assessment of the endothelial toxicity of intracameral cefuroxime after phacoemulsification

Sertaç Tatlı1, Bora Yüksel2, Faruk Bıçak2, Tuncay Kusbeci2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Kocaeli Korfez State Hospital, Kocaeli, Türkiye
2Department of Ophthalmology, University of Health Sciences Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Türkiye

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the possible adverse effect of intracameral cefuroxime (ICC) on corneal endothelium by comparing it with subconjunctival gentamycin (SCG) injection.
METHODS: Patients were divided in two groups; ICC (1 mg/0.1 ml) and SCG (40 mg/ml). Corrected distance visual acuity, anterior segment examination, intraocular pressure measurement, specular microscopy (endothelial cell density, coefficient of variation (CV), hexagonality, and central corneal thickness (CCT) were performed before surgery and at postoperative controls on week 1, month 1, and month 3.
RESULTS: Fifty-one eyes received ICC, 37 eyes SCG, and the mean ages of the patients were 70.0±5.5 and 69.2±6.6 (p=0.644). Endothelial cell loss at month 1 was 17.07% in ICC and 16.75% in SCG group (p=0.899). CCT returned to pre-operative values in SCG group at month 1 (p=0.483). Whereas in ICC eyes, a statistically significantly higher CCT still persisted at month 1 (p=0.015). CV showed no statistically significant difference at three post-operative visits compared to baseline in SCG group. Whereas in ICC group, a statistically significant increase was observed in CV at week 1 (p=0.000) and month 1 (p=0.012). At month 3 visit, a statistically significantly lower hexagonality was observed in ICC when compared with SCG (p=0.019).
CONCLUSION: Results of our study showed that the licensed ICC use after phacoemulsification is safe as SCG in clinical point of view. However, abnormalities in CCT, CV, and hexagonality suggest subclinical endothelial toxicity of cefuroxime.

Keywords: Corneal endothelium, intracameral cefuroxime; toxicity.

Sertaç Tatlı, Bora Yüksel, Faruk Bıçak, Tuncay Kusbeci. Comparative assessment of the endothelial toxicity of intracameral cefuroxime after phacoemulsification. Eur Eye Res. 2022; 2(3): 116-123

Corresponding Author: Faruk Bıçak, Türkiye
Manuscript Language: English