Fluorophotometric study of anterior segment barrier functions after extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation.

We used fluorophotometry and pachymetry to examine the longer-term (more than three months) postoperative effects in the anterior segment of extracapsular lens extraction with and without posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. Fluorophotometry was performed after oral administration of fluorescein solution (5 mg/kg of body weight under fasting condition). We calculated the corneal endothelial transfer coefficient, fluorescein distribution ratio, aqueous transfer coefficient in reference to chamber volume, and loss coefficient and measured corneal thickness with a modified pachymeter. There were no significant differences between the values for corneal endothelial transfer coefficient and corneal thickness in the two groups of surgically treated eyes combined vs the intact fellow eyes. The aqueous transfer coefficient and loss coefficient values were not significantly different between the two surgically treated groups. Anterior chamber depth did not differ significantly between the two surgical groups, but the value for the two groups combined (3.79 mm) did differ significantly from that of the fellow eyes (2.87 mm) (P less than .005). We concluded that endothelial function recovers three months after extracapsular lens extraction with or without posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation, and that the effects of intraocular lens implantation on anterior segment barrier functions are not significantly different from those of extracapsular lens extraction alone.