Tujuan: Membandingkan efek pemberian suplementasi vitamin C dan plasebo terhadap ketebalan komea pasca fakoemulsifikasi.Metode: Eksperimental tersamar ganda, 32 penderita katarak densitas 3-4 yang akan menjalani prosedur fakoemulsifikasi dibagi menjadi 2 kelompok. Pasien perlakuan mendapatkan suplementasi vitamin C 1x500 mg/hari peroral 1 selama satu minggu sebelum operasi, 1 g intravena begitu selesai operasi dan 2x500 mglhari peroral (diminum setelah makan) selama 1 minggu pasca operasi sedangkan kelompok kontrol mendapatkan kapsul plasebo lx1 peroral 1 satu minggu sebelum operasi dan 2x1 peroral selama I minggu pasca operasi.Hasil: Tidak terdapat perbedaan bermakna ketebalan komea dan nilai suar antara kelompok perlakuan dibandingkan kelompok plasebo pada hari pertama dan ketujuh pasca operasi (p>0,05). Terjadi penurunan ketebalan kornea yang cukup signifikan dari hari pertama ke hari ketujuh pada kelompok vitamin C (p=0,029). Jumlah suar cenderung menetap di hari ketujuh pada kelompok vitamin C dan meningkat pada kelompok kontrol. Namun perubahan ini tidak menunjukkan perbedaan yang bermakna (p>0,05).Kesimpulan: Pemberian vitamin C secara sistemik tidak memiliki dampak terhadap ketebalan kornea pada hari pertama pasca fakoemulsifikasi. Suplementasi vitamin C mempercepat pemulihan ketebalan kornea pada had ketujuh pasca fakoemulsifikasi.

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Objective: To evaluate the effect of vitamin C supplementation on corneal thickness after phacoemulsification.

Method: Double masked, prospective, randomized clinical trial of 32 patients with grade III-IV cataract. Patient divided into two groups. Subject group received a single dose of 500 mg vitamin C daily orally one week before phacoemulsification were done, I g vitamin C soon after operation finished and 500 mg vitamin C twice daily one week after operation. Control group received the placebo capsule once daily a week before operation and twice daily one week after surgery.

Result: Corneal thickness and flare measurement between two groups demonstrated no statistical difference at first and seventh day. In subject group, there was slightly significant decrease of corneal thickness at first 7 days (p=0,029). Flare tended to be stable in subject group and seemed to increase in control group. But this differences was not significant (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Supplementation of vitamin C has not showed any influence to corneal thickness at one day after surgery. Vitamin C supplementation seemed to facilitate recovery of corneal thickness at seventh day after surgery.