Sutureless Small Incision ECCE with Phaco Prechopper

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The study was done to introduce the new small incision sutureless extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) surgical technique and its safety using phaco prechopper. METHODS: After 4.5 mm scleral frown incision from 2 mm surgical limbus, continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and complete hydrodissection, nucleus was divided into 2 fragments with phaco prechopper which is special forceps for nuclear divider in the bag. One piece of lens was drawn into anterior chamber from capsular bag using Sinskey hook and removed it with Wilder lens loop (size4 x15 mm) from anterior chamber. The other piece of lens was removed with the same method. To evaluate the safety of new method compared to phacoemulsification (P.E), analysis of the serial changes of the corneal endothelial cell density, hexagonal pattern and mean cell sizes before and 3months after the operation in 40eyes (ECCE group 20eyes, P.E group 20eyes) was made. RESULTS: There were no significant complications such as posterior capsular rupture, vitreous loss, capsulorhexis tear but transient corneal edema was found. The mean percentage of corneal endothelial cell loss was 9.05+/-6.5% in ECCE group and 9.80+/-6.7% in the P.E group. CONCLUSIONS: This new method is safe, easy and does not require expensive instrumentation. It can be of great help for the phaco beginners to practice capsulorhexis, hydrodissection and the use of phaco system. We think it is an alternative method for phacoemulsification in cataract surgery.