Chopping techniques in cataract surgery

To explain reasons for phaco chop, outline strategies for transitioning to chop, and summarize recent articles discussing chopping techniques.

New variations of phaco chop may help with managing dense cataracts. Studies generally continue to show similar phaco time between traditional manual chopping and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery. A nitinol ring prechopper compresses the lens similarly to horizontal chopping, which may reduce phaco energy for certain cases.

Both vertical and horizontal chopping continue to demonstrate multiple advantages over other nucleus disassembly techniques.