Clinical Optometry (Mar 2020)
Stop and Flip: A Simple and Safe Phacoemulsification Technique
Abstract
Mehrdad Mohammadpour,1 Masoud Khorrami-Nejad1,2 1Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranCorrespondence: Masoud Khorrami-NejadEye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranTel +98 21 5540 0010Email [email protected]: We introduce a simple, easy to learn, fast and safe technique to facilitate nucleus management in patients with zonular weakening in uncomplicated cases. The surgery begins with a temporal 3.2 mm clear corneal incision under topical anesthesia. Two side-port incisions are made on the inferior and superior sides. Anterior continuous curvilinear 5– 6 mm diameter capsulorhexis and hydrodissection are performed to loosen capsule cortical attachments. The nucleus is not rotated, and an appropriated groove (80– 90% depth) is sculpted using phaco machine. The groove is cracked into two hemispheres; lateral pressure and a side port manipulator. Then, 15– 30 degree phaco tip is introduced and embedded into one hemisphere of nucleus beside the capsulorhexis edge at temporal or nasal part. After complete removal of the first hemisphere, the second is flipped again from bag into iris plane and phacoemulsified in the same manner.Keywords: phacoemulsification, pseudoexfoliation syndrome
