MICS safer and more effective than torsional phaco

The new Custom Control Software on the MICS Millennium platform (Bausch & Lomb) results in less endothelial cell loss than torsional phacoemulsification performed on the Infiniti System (Alcon), according to a Greek study.

Panagiotis Zafirakis and colleagues from the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Eye Center, Hellenic Ophthalmochirourgiki, Athens conducted a randomized, comparative study of 120 eyes, which were assigned to phacoemulsification by MICS (60 eyes) or torsional ultrasound (60 eyes) modes. Bimanual phacoemulsification was performed using a quick chop technique.

Mean operating time (5.11 versus 7.30 minutes), effective phaco time (3±5.31 versus 9.37±6.80 seconds) and mean percentage of ultrasound power (6.67±1.66 versus 18.88±2.77) were statistically significantly shorter (p<0.01) with the MICS platform compared with the torsional system. Mean volume of irrigation fluid used (134±11.3 ml versus 175±27.5 ml) and mean endothelial cell loss (3.6% versus 5.3%) were also significantly lower with the MICS system (p<0.001). There were three capsular ruptures in the torsional group and none in the MICS group. Furthermore, there were seven cases of postoperative corneal fold or oedema in the torsional group and only one in the MICS group. Postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was similar in both groups.Overall, it was concluded, the MICS platform is a safer and more effective system than torsional phacoemulsification.