Phacoexcavation as an alternative pars plana technique for lens removal

The phacoexcavator permits lens removal via the pars plana by mechanical disruption, hydration, and aspiration within the capsule. The instrument is suitable for use with unimanual, bimanual, or three-port methods. In five cases lenses estimated to have 2+ to 3+ nuclear sclerosis were removed successfully in less than three minutes. There were no postoperative complications and the only intraoperative complication was some loss of cortical material in one case. This was recovered and removed during the vitrectomy.