Purpose: To compare the clinical outcomes of endonucleation chop (EC) versus conventional crater (CC) chop techniques in phacoemulsification of hard nuclear cataracts.
Methods: In this Prospective, longitudinal, randomized controlled study with double-blinding. Hundred consecutive eyes with uncomplicated cataracts (nucleus grades 3 and 4) were equally divided into Group A (EC) and Group B (CC). Intraoperative effective phacoemulsification time (EPT) and balanced salt solution (BSS) volume used was noted. Postoperative central corneal thickness (CCT), endothelial cell density (ECD), uncorrected Visual Acuity (UCVA), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and IOP were recorded at days 1, 7, 30, and 90 postoperatively. The Chi-square test (categorical data), Mann-Whitney U test, and t-tests for other parameters were done.
Results: The mean EPT in Groups A and B were 6.6 and 14.25 s, respectively (P < 0.001). The BSS volume used was 105.9 and 221.7 mL, respectively (P < 0.001). At 3 months, the ECD loss was 4.35 and 8.6%, respectively (P = 0.025). The-first day CCT was significantly increased in Group B but was the same in both groups at 3 months. A significant improvement in BCVA was noted in both groups. This new technique significantly reduces EPT, the BSS used, and ECD loss.
Conclusion: Compared with the CC chop technique, the EC technique for phacoemulsification of hard nuclear cataracts conserved phacoemulsification energy and minimized exposure to the intraocular irrigating solution, provided a significant reduction in corneal endothelial damage, and led to faster visual rehabilitation.
Keywords: Conventional crater chop; effective phacoemulsification time; endothelial cell density.