The Effectiveness and Safety of the Phaco Prechopper Technique Before Lens Phacoemulsification in Cataract Surgery

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness and safety of the phaco prechopper technique dividing lenses into 2 or 4 pieces before phacoemulsification with the effectiveness and safety of conventional phacoemulsification during cataract surgery. Methods: This study included 360 eyes, which were divided into 4 groups according to nuclear opacity each group was subdivided into 3 groups according to the lens extraction technique (control, dividing the lens into two pieces using a phaco prechopper, and dividing it into four pieces) (Table 1). The following parameters were compared between the groups that had the same degree of nuclear opacity: changes in the endothelial cell count and hexagonality 2 months postoperatively, phaco time as well as the total phaco energy used for the operation, and the complication rates. Results: There were no intra- and post-operative complications in any group. The endothelial cell loss rate was significantly less in nuclear opacity groups 2 and 3 with the prechopper technique than in the control group. Hexagonality was significantly higher in the nuclear opacity group 3 with the prechopper technique than in the control 2 months after the operation. Phaco time was significantly less in the nuclear opacity groups 2 and 3 with the prechopper technique than in the control. Total phaco energy was significantly less in the nuclear opacity groups 2, 3, and 4 with the prechopper technique than in the control. Conclusions: Phacoemulsification using the prechopper technique is safe, resulting in significantly less endothelial cell damage, and requires less phaco time and less total phaco energy compared to those of the conventional phacoemulsification technique.