New Cataract removal instrumentation and techniques: ii. laboratory phacofragmentation with the NASA-McGannon...

The NASA-McGannon cataract fragmentor, a newly designed mechanical phacofragmentor powered by compressed air, was tested on 100 eyes of old rabbits and on 50 dark brown nuclei of human cataracts that were implanted in the anterior chambers of rabbit eyes after the lenses had been removed. It was possible to eliminate the eddy current in the anterior chamber, reduce the requirement for infusion, and reduce the time of fragmentation both for rabbit lenses and for implanted hard nuclei of human cataracts. Iatrogenic damage to the iris and posterior capsule of the lens was noted in the early cases but not in the later ones, as the operators became more skillful in manipulating the instrument.