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Published on: July 7, 2023
Double extra sharp chopper increase efficacy of phacoemulsification for hard mature cataract surgery
Gilbert W S Simanjuntak1, Jannes F Tan, H H B Mailangkay
1Department of Ophthalmology Faculty of Medicine, Christian University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia, and Cikini CCI Hospital Jakarta, Indonesia. retinaid@yahoo.com
Objective:
To assess the efficacy and safety of a modified double extra sharp chopper for removal of hard cataracts.
Design:
Prospective non-comparative interventional clinical study.
Participants:
Forty eyes from 25 patients with hard mature cataract grades 3-4.
Methods:
The pre-modified Koch chopper was sharpened under the slit lamp to become extra sharp at the tip and inside the edge and 2 mm in length. Patients with hard mature cataract grades 3-4 (grade 4 being the hardest) underwent phacoemulsification by single surgery and were analyzed prospectively.
Results:
The mean effective phaco time was 23.73 +/- 5.75 seconds. Minimal power was facilitated by using horizontal chopping using a self-made double extra sharp chopper. No resistance was encountered while moving the chopper, regardless of cataract persistency. Preoperative BCVA were count fingers (47%), hand movement (35%), and light perception (18%). Postoperative BCVA on day 1and day 7 were 0.57 and 0.95, respectively. There was no difference of effective phaco time among nuclear hardness (P = 0.467), which represent the effectiveness of the extra sharp chopper.
Conclusions:
The double extra sharp chopper facilitated a safe and rapid visual rehabilitation and maximal subject comfort when doing phacoemulsification for hard mature cataracts.
