Corneal sensitivity recovery after phacoemulsification: quantitative esthesiometric analysis

Isabella Passarelli Giabardo Marques¹; Christiana Velloso Rebello Hilgert^2,3; Caio Henrique Peres Oliani¹; Juliana Carolina Contrera¹; Marcello Novoa Colombo-Barboza^1,4; Guilherme Novoa Colombo-Barboza^1,5; Bernardo Kaplan Moscovici^1,3

DOI: 10.5935/0004-2749.2025-0312

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To quantitatively assess changes in central corneal sensitivity after phacoemulsification and to characterize recovery patterns up to 90 days using standardized esthesiometry.
METHODS: This prospective observational study included 44 patients (88 eyes) undergoing uncomplicated phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. Central corneal sensitivity was measured using a Cochet-Bonnet^® esthesiometer preoperatively and at 30 and 90 days postoperatively. Repeated-measures data were analyzed using Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (p<0.05). Inter-eye differences were assessed with a paired Wilcoxon test. Individual changes from baseline (Δ30, Δ90) were calculated, and 90-day recovery was categorized according to thresholds aligned with the 5-mm device resolution. Spearman correlation was used to explore associations between age and Δ90.
RESULTS: Corneal sensitivity decreased after surgery. In right eyes, mean sensitivity declined from 41.14 ± 7.77 mm at baseline to 36.82 ± 9.03 mm at 30 days and partially recovered to 38.64 ± 7.73 mm at 90 days. In left eyes, sensitivity decreased from 44.11 ± 6.29 mm to 37.39 ± 9.05 mm at 30 days and recovered to 41.82 ± 7.63 mm at 90 days. Left eyes showed higher sensitivity than right eyes at baseline (p=0.023) and at 90 days (p=0.018). At 90 days, complete or near-complete recovery (within ± 5 mm of baseline) occurred in 73.2% of right eyes and 78.0% of left eyes, while improvement above baseline (≥ +5 mm) occurred in 7.3% and 4.9%, respectively. Age showed weak, nonsignificant correlations with Δ90 (p=−0.14 to −0.19; p>0.2).
CONCLUSION: Phacoemulsification with a 2.75-mm clear corneal incision leads to a temporary reduction in central corneal sensitivity, with partial recovery by 90 days. Recovery patterns vary among individuals, highlighting the value of postoperative sensitivity monitoring to identify atypical trajectories and guide ocular surface care during visual rehabilitation.

Keywords: Phacoemulsification; Cornea/innervation; Ophthalmic nerve/physiology; Optometry/instrumentation; Diagnostic techniques, ophthalmological; Neural regeneration; Visual rehabilitation.

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