A new technique of phacoemulsification without hydroprocedures

• Main Authors: Narayan Bardoloi, Sandip Sarkar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-01-01
• Series: Kerala Journal of Ophthalmology
• Subjects: chopping; cortical cleavage hydrodissection; hydroprocedure; phacoemulsification
• Online Access: http://www.kjophthal.com/article.asp?issn=0976-6677;year=2021;volume=33;issue=2;spage=189;epage=193;aulast=Bardoloi

Purpose: We describe a new technique where phacoemulsification can be safely performed without doing hydroprocedure. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective, nonrandomized, noncomparative, single-center study where Group A had undergone phacoemulsification without hydroprocedure and Group B had undergone conventional phacoemulsification. After capsulorhexis, we insert the phacoemulsification tip into the eye without doing any hydroprocedure. First shaving of the cortex and epinucleus is done within the capsulorhexis area. Then, the tip is buried into the center of the nucleus and an anteroposterior crack is fashioned. Then, the tip is placed at 8 o'clock position to chop away a piece of nucleus and emulsified. A similar maneuver is done at 4 o'clock position. The phacoemulsification tip and the chopper are now positioned at the cracked site of the lower fragments. Using the two instruments, the fragments are pushed to the opposite direction and emulsified. Results: The mean age of the patients of Group A was 65.7 ± 8.16 years and Group B was 68.9 ± 9.85 years (P = 0.127). The mean best-corrected visual acuity in Group A improved from 0.92 ± 0.49 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) to 00.01 ± 0.02 logMAR at 3 months postoperatively. The mean endothelial cell loss was 145 ± 123 cells/mm2 at 3 months postoperatively. There was no significant difference in postoperative outcomes between both the groups. Conclusion: The technique can be safely applied in all cataracts, especially posterior polar cataract and white mature cataract where hydrodissection is contraindicated.