Materials and Methods: 48 eyes of 48 patients had cataract surgery by phacoemulsification were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the temperature of intraocular irrigating solution (BSS Plus) used during phacoemulsification. In the first group, BSS Plus at 10±1ºC was used on 23 eyes of 23 patients and in the second group BSS Plus at 20±0.7ºC was used on 25 eyes of 25 patients. Central corneal thickness (T), endothelial cell density (CD), coefficient of varition of cell area (CV) and average cell area (AVG) were measured with specular microscopy preoperatively and postoperatively at 1st week, 1st month and 3rd months. The groups were compared according to postoperative corneal endothelium changes.

Results: At three months, the percentage of cell loss was in the first group 8.1% (10±1ºC) and in the second group (20±0.7ºC) 10.1%. Postoperatively percentage of endothelial cell loss, central corneal thickness, AVG and CV level was not statistically significant difference between two groups (p>0.05). Postoperative CV levels returned to preoperative levels at 1st month in the first group and at 3rd months in the second group.

Conclusion: Functional and morphological endothelial recovery occurred earlier in grup 1 than grup 2. Thus the use of cold irrigating solution at 10±1º C may be of benefit during phacoemulsification. Keywords : Phacoemulsification, corneal endothelium, irrigating solution, specular microscopy, temperature