AbstracPurpose: To measure corneal thickness at four sites preoperatively and in early postoperative period after Manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) with goal of evaluating the functional integrity of corneal endothelium after MSICS. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital based prospective interventional study without control conducted at S.M.S Hospital, Jaipur. Sample consisted of seventy five eyes of 75 patients of senile cataract aged between group of 45 yrs to 75 yrs. All patients underwent Manual small incision cataract surgery. The measurement of corneal thickness was done using ultrasonic pachymeter (Ophthasonic A/P III) at four corneal sites from centre to periphery of cornea. The measurements were done preoperatively as well as on 1^st; 7^th and 21^st postoperative days. The measurements at all four corneal points automatically get taken simultaneously. Three observations were made for each thickness site (preoperatively and at follow ups) and their mean was recorded as the thickness reading in the study. Results: Out of the seventy five patients included in the study, 42 (56%) were males and 33 (44%) were females. Preoperatively, mean central corneal thickness was 517±31.64 micron. Postoperatively, it was 595.35 ± 33.48 micron on 1^st day; 552.79±31.97 micron on 7^th day and 524± 31.66 micron on 21^st day and this change was found to be statistically significant (P<0.01). The paracentral; midperipheral and peripheral corneal thickness values also showed similar trend as compared to baseline values which was also statistically significant (P<0.01). Conclusion: This study suggests that there is transient increase in corneal thickness in immediate postoperative period following MSICS suggesting endothelial cell stress and damage. The thickness values start approximating the baseline preoperative values by 21^st day suggesting that corneal endothelial damage is not permanent and endothelial cells tend to regain their pump function.

Keywords: Manual small incision cataract surgery, corneal endothelium, pachymetry, corneal thickness.