Bimanual microincisional phacoemulsification: the future of cataract surgery?

Bimanual microincisional cataract surgery has recently become a procedure of interest among cataract surgeons, and a number of trials have shown its potential as a minimally invasive cataract surgery. The purpose of this review is to examine the studies that have been published to date and to evaluate the potential of bimanual phacoemulsification as a method of cataract extraction.

Recent studies have reinforced the safety of bimanual phacoemulsification. In particular, recently published studies have focused on evaluating various phacoemulsification technologies and their safety when used in bimanual phacoemulsification. Newly developed rollable hydrophilic acrylic ThinOptX lenses have been shown to be implantable in 2.2-mm incisions safely with good visual outcomes.

Bimanual phacoemulsification has been a potential technique for a number of years, but only recently have the technology, software, and technique advanced sufficiently to make bimanual phacoemulsification a feasible method of cataract extraction. Although the main disadvantage to bimanual phacoemulsification remains the lack of intraocular lenses that can fit through microincisions, necessitating the enlargement of corneal wounds for intraocular lens implantation, bimanual phacoemulsification has a number of advantages over traditional small-incision phacoemulsification. Theses advantages have been a source of interest for cataract surgeons and surgical companies who are now developing technologies that will permit the performance of truly microincisional cataract surgery.