Objective: To compare the effect of Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose versus Sodium Hyaluronate on corneal endothelial cell count in patients undergoing cataract surgery by phacoemulsification.

Design: It was a randomized clinical trial.

Study Settings: This study was conducted at the Eye Unit III, Mayo Hospital / KEMU, Lahore over 12 months period from June 2014 to May 2015.

Hypothesis: There is a significant difference in protective effect on corneal endothelial cell loss with dispersive (Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) viscoelastic agent as compared to cohesive (sodium hyaluronate) viscoelastic agent used during phacoemulsification with intraocular lens for the treatment of cataract.

Material and Methods: Total 80 patients from both the genders aged between 40-70 years with cataract undergoing phacoemulsification surgery were involved in this study. Two equal treatment groups were made by random allocation. Patients in Group-A (n=40) received Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as viscoelastic agent while patients in Group-B (n=40) received treatment with Sodium Hyaluronate. Surgery was carried out by phacoemulsification technique and follow-up was done at first week, 1st month and 3rd month post-operatively. Data was collected in terms of endothelial cell count by noncontact specular microscope.

Results: Patients age was in the range of 40 to 70 years with a mean of 57.26 ± 8.00 years. There were 31 (38.75%) females and 49 (61.25%) male patients with a female to male ratio of 1.6:1. Both the groups had no statistically significant difference in the mean corneal cell count before surgery (2839.67±368.71 cells/mm2 vs. 2801.36 ± 332.52 cells/mm2; p-value= 06.27). Post-operative mean corneal cell count at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months was significantly higher in patients in Group-A compared to Group-B. Similarly, significant difference was noted across various subgroups of both the groups on the basis of patient’s age and gender.

Conclusion: This study concluded that there is less corneal endothelial cell loss with dispersive Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose viscoelastic agent as compared to cohesive sodium hyaluronate viscoelastic agent used during phacoemulsification surgery with intraocular lens implant for the treatment of cataract.

Keywords: Cataract, phacoemulsification, viscoelastic agents, corneal, endothelial cell.