Comparison of two phacoemulsification system handpieces: prospective randomized comparative study

To compare the safety and efficacy of Active Sentry handpiece with Ozil handpiece for Centurion phacoemulsification system.

Tertiary eye center, South India.

Prospective observational study.

204 eyes of 204 patients with uncomplicated cataract who underwent phacoemulsification cataract surgery with Centurion Vision System were randomized into 2 groups: Ozil handpiece (n = 101) and Active Sentry handpiece (n = 103). Intraoperative factors such as patient pain perception, surgeon comfort level, amount of phacoemulsification energy and aspiration fluid used, and frequency of activation of active surge mitigation (ASM) were analyzed, and postoperatively, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and corneal edema on day 1 were compared.

A total of 204 eyes of 204 patients were included among which 101 underwent surgery with ozil hand piece and 103 with Active Sentry handpiece. Patient pain perception was comparable between the groups with no statistically significant differences in patients who had pain-free surgery (66% vs 61.3%) and those who experienced moderate pain (24.3% vs 28.7%). Surgeons were more comfortable using Ozil handpiece during entry into anterior chamber and emulsification of hard nuclei (48.5% vs 28.6%). The mean cumulative dissipated energy for soft and hard cataracts was 5.6 and 4.8 and 9.3 and 9.4 for Ozil and Active Sentry groups, respectively. ASM was activated for 53 eyes (51.5%), of which 42 eyes (79.2%) had soft cataract and 11 eyes (20.7%) hard cataract. Postoperative CDVA and incidence of corneal edema were comparable between the groups.

For Centurion Vision System, Active Sentry handpiece was as safe and efficacious as the Ozil handpiece with added benefit of operating at lower intraocular pressure levels.