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1: J Cataract Refract Surg. 2001 Nov;27(11):1746-50.Click here to read Links
Comment in:
J Cataract Refract Surg. 2003 Feb;29(2):233.

Toxic endothelial cell destruction from intraocular benzalkonium chloride.

Liu H, Routley I, Teichmann KD.

Orana Eye Centre, Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia.

PURPOSE: To present a cluster of cases of corneal edema occurring after phacoemulsification. SETTING: Regional hospital in rural Australia. METHODS: This retrospective case series comprised 12 patients from a single surgical list comprising 19 cases who developed persistent corneal edema after having phacoemulsification. RESULTS: After 6 months, the edema improved in 1 patient. Inadvertent intraocular use of balanced salt solution (BSS) preserved with benzalkonium chloride was found to be the cause of this serious complication. CONCLUSIONS: Benzalkonium chloride in concentrations commonly used extraocularly is highly toxic to the corneal endothelium. Every possible safeguard should be taken to prevent inadvertent intraocular use of such preserved solutions.

PMID: 11709246 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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