Mini-rhexis for white intumescent cataracts

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the intraoperative safety of two techniques of capsulorhexis for intumescent white cataracts traditional one-stage continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and two-stage continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis. METHODS: This prospective comparative randomized study included two groups the 1-CCC group (11 patients) received traditional one-stage continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis with 5-6 mm diameter, and the 2-CCC (13 patients) group received a deliberately small continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis that was secondarily enlarged, or a two-stage continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis. Patients were stratified according to cataract subset, which was characterized echographically. Six patients were considered as type 1, fifteen as type 2 and three as type 3. Type 1 included intumescent white cataracts with cortex liquefaction and extensive internal acoustic reflections, type 2 included white cataracts with voluminous nuclei, a small amount of whitish solid cortex, and minimal internal acoustic reflections, and type 3 included white cataracts with fibrous anterior capsules and few internal echo spikes. RESULTS: With the one-stage technique, 46.15 percent of patients had leakage of the liquefied cortex; in addition, the surgeon perceived high intracapsular pressure in 61.53 percent of cases. Anterior capsule tears occurred in 23.07 percent of cases, discontinuity of capsulorhexis in 30.79 percent of cases and no posterior capsular rupture occurred. With the two-stage technique, leakage of the liquefied cortex occurred in 45.45 percent of cases; additionally, the surgeon perceived high intracapsular pressure in 36.36 percent of cases. No anterior capsule tears, discontinuity of capsulorhexis or posterior capsular rupture occurred. Considering each cataract subset, there was a higher incidence of leakage for type 2 as compared to types 1 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: Two-stage continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis helps prevent unexpected ...