Clinical comparison of the Alcon 20,000 Legacy and 10,000 Master phacoemulsification units

To determine whether the use of the Alcon 20,000 Legacy phacoemulsification unit requires less phacoemulsification time and causes fewer intraoperative complications than the Alcon 10,000 Master unit.

Private practices in Kansas City, Missouri, and Marshalltown, Iowa, USA.

This prospective study comprised 400 consecutive cases of phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation performed using the Alcon 20,000 Legacy unit by a high-volume phacoemulsification surgeon (n = 200) and a moderate-volume surgeon (n = 200). Data included age, phacoemulsification time, and surgical complications. The control study was a retrospective review of the same data from the previous 200 cases done by each surgeon with the Alcon 10,000 Master unit.

In the combined series of 400 cases done with the 10,000 Master unit, mean age was 72.7 years and mean phacoemulsification (i.e., ultrasound) time, 1.97 minutes. There were 2 cases (0.50%) of vitreous loss and 3 cases (0.75%) of posterior capsule tear without vitreous loss. The total complication rate for both surgeons was 1.25% with the 10,000 Master. In the combined series of 400 cases done with the 20,000 Legacy unit, mean age was 72.5 years and mean phacoemulsification time, 1.50 minutes. There were no cases of vitreous loss and 1 case (0.25%) of posterior capsule tear without vitreous loss. The total complication rate for both surgeons was 0.25% with the 20,000 Legacy. The difference in complication rates between the two machines was not significant. Phacoemulsification time with the 20,000 Legacy unit was significantly less than with the 10,000 Master unit for both surgeons (P < or = .001 and .05, respectively).

The Alcon series 20,000 Legacy unit proved to be a safe, reliable, and highly effective instrument for modern cataract extraction and IOL implantation that required significantly less phacoemulsification time than the 10,000 Master unit.