Creating cataract in a pig eye

The purpose of this study was to create a uniform, reproducible hardened lens nucleus and an anterior capsule in a pig eye that approximate those in the human eye for use in cataract surgery training. The lens nuclei was hardened and anterior capsule elasticity was reduced in pig eyes by injecting the lens with mixtures of formalin and alcohol (ethanol, 2-propanol, or both). A 30 gauge needle was used to pierce the lens 3.0 mm from the limbus. Then, 0.2 mL of the formalin and alcohol mixture was injected. The most effective mixture was formalin, ethanol, and 2-propanol in the ratio 4:3:3. Fifteen minutes after this mixture was injected, the pig eye had nuclear cataract with grade III hardness and an anterior capsule that approximated the capsule in a human cataractous eye. The cataract created by this method will be useful in teaching continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis, divide and conquer and phaco chop phacoemulsification, and nuclear hydrodelineation and rotation.