AIM: To compare the corneal endothelial cell counts pre- and post-operation, ultrastructure of anterior lens capsule and surgical completion after diathermic high-frequency capsulorhexis (DHC) and continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis (CCC) applied in phacoemulsification (PHACO) of white cataract surgery. METHODS: Sixty-six eyes of 66 patients (33 males and 33 females) with cataract aged between 60 and 80y (mean 72.5±5.5) were recruited and undergone the surgery from June 2014 to November 2016. Anterior lens capsule, derived from two kinds of capsulorhexis, were randomly divided into two groups according to random number table. The ultrastructure of the capsule edge and its closer tissue were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and optical microscopy respectively. The surgical completion conditions and corneal endothelial cell counts were analyzed pre- and post-operation after two capsulorhexis. RESULTS: The capsule derived from CCC had smooth edge, well-organized cellular structure and the cells filling into the cutting edge under TEM and optical microscopy. The capsule derived from DHC had an approximate 60 banded area of cell degeneration and necrosis, with dentiform prominences at the edge of the capsule, and no cell structure was observed at this area. The corneal endothelial cell counts of both groups were slightly declined 1wk post-operation compared with that of pre-operation. There was no statistical difference between the two groups (t=1.63, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: DHC shows good clinical value in white mature and hypermature cataract surgery.