Microcoaxial phaco better than standard phaco

Microcoaxial phacoemulsification induces significantly less keratometric changes and provides better visual acuity than standard phacoemulsification, according to Seyed Javad Hashemian and colleagues from the Fajr Hospital & Negah Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran.

In a controlled prospective clinical trial, 69 eyes of subjects with senile cataract (grade 3 to 4 on the Lens opacities Classification System III) underwent phacoemulsification. The subjects were randomized to undergo either microcoaxial phaco (39 eyes; Sovereign WhiteStar; AMO) or conventional phaco (30 eyes; Legacy 20000, Everest; Alcon). In each case, the incision was made into a temporarily clear cornea and a hydrophobic acrylic flexible intraocular lens (Acrysof Natural, SN60AT; Alcon) was implanted.

The researchers found that the only statistically significant difference between the two groups was the surgically induced keratometric changes at five days postoperatively. (p=0.02).

At the study's conclusion, Dr Hashemian an colleagues concluded that, although both techniques were safe and effective for cataract surgery, microcoaxial phacoemulsification induced significantly less surgical keratometric changes and yielded better visual acuity in the early postoperative days.