Comparative study of phacoemulsification parameters with and without nitinol filament nuclear disassembly

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Cataract surgery involves phacoemulsification to remove the clouded lens.
• Reducing energy and time during phacoemulsification can improve patient outcomes and surgeon efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of nitinol microfilament lens disassembly (miLOOP) on phacoemulsification parameters.
• To assess the effectiveness of this technique in routine cataract surgery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective comparative case series of 212 eyes from 131 patients.
• Comparison of phacoemulsification energy, time, and irrigation/aspiration (I/A) with and without nitinol filament nuclear disassembly.
• Single surgeon, single center study.

Main Results:

• Nitinol filament nuclear disassembly was used in 48% of cases.
• A 16% reduction in overall phacoemulsification energy was observed.
• Significant reductions in phacoemulsification time (-19%) and I/A time (-37%) were recorded (P < .02).
• Greater energy reduction (-22%) was noted in grade 3+ cataracts.

Conclusions:

• Nitinol microfilament nuclear disassembly effectively reduces phacoemulsification energy and time.
• The miLOOP device offers benefits in cataract surgery, particularly for dense cataracts.
• This technique may enhance surgical efficiency and patient safety.