Abstract

Rho-kinase inhibitors promote the proliferation of corneal endothelial cells, increasing intercellular adhesion and suppressing apoptosis. Three cases of patients with low endothelial count, who underwent cataract phacoemulsification plus intraocular lens implantation and who received topical Ripasudil, a Rho kinase inhibitor, one week before and one month during the postoperative period, are described. The first case had 1,691 cells/mm2, the second 1,487 cells/mm2, and the third 1,359 cells/mm2. Following the treatment with Ripasudil in the perioperative period, 6 months after surgery, specular microscopies were performed, obtaining the following results: 1,525 cells/mm2, 1,361 cells/mm2, and 1,215 cells/mm2, respectively, evidencing a loss of endothelial cells between 8.47%. and 10.6%, since this is not so significant despite the background pathologies, it could be postulated that Rho kinase inhibitors have a protective effect on the corneal endothelium.