Effects of phacoemulsification and extracapsular lens removal on corneal thickness and endothelial cell density in the dog.

Twenty-one dogs were used to study the effects of phacoemulsification and extracapsular lens removal on corneal endothelium and corneal thickness. Specular microscopy revealed preoperative cell morphology and cell densities similar to man. After surgery endothelial cell counts significantly decreased 22% (central) and 13% (periphery) with phacoemulsification and 34% (central) and 31% (periphery) with extracapsular lens removal. Corneal thickness increased with both procedures. Endothelial cell pathology included cellular enlargement, increased pleomorphism, and focal cellular degeneration. Phacoemulsification time did not correlate with the degree of cell loss. Dog corneal endothelium responds to surgical trauma in a manner similar to man and maintains a functional monolayer via cellular enlargement and migration. The dog, therefore, represents a good animal model for the study of corneal endothelial disease in man.