The Role of Ascorbic Acid on Endothelial Cell Damage in Phacoemulsification

The objective of this study is to compare the corneal endothelial cell loss due to phacoemulsification surgery in ascorbic acidgroup and placebo group. This was a clinical study with double blinds randomized controlled trial. There were 66 subjects enrolled, divided into 2 groups ascorbic acid group that was given 2 g orally with divided doses 500 mg four times at night, morning, afternoon and 2 hours before surgery (n = 32) and placebo group (n = 34). Endothelial cell counts was performed before and 7 days after phacoemulsification surgery. Administration of 2g ascorbic acid in divided doses of 500 mg given 4 times before phacoemulsification surgery caused less corneal endothelial cell loss 229,27 ± 191,58 cells/mm2(9.10% ± 6.88%) compared with the administration of placebo which had endothelial cell loss 364,64 ± 255,25 cells/mm2 (14.85% ± 10.54%). There was statistically significantly different in endothelial cell loss between the two groups (p < 0.05), but no clinically significantly different. The baseline characteristic between the both groups was similar. Administration of 2 g ascorbic acid in divided doses of 500 mg given 4 times before phacoemulsification surgery can reduce the corneal endothelial cell loss.