Square incisions offer good stability

A Czech study has found that 2.2 mm square clear corneal incisions for microcoaxial phacoemulsification are very stable and provide adequate postoperative sealing.

Peter Mojzis and co-workers from the Havlickuw Brod Hospital, Czech Republic enrolled 30 patients to undergo microcoaxial phacoemulsification with the MicroSmooth UltraSleeve (Alcon) through a 2.2 mm temporal clear corneal incision (CCI), using a Clear Cut metal blade (Alcon). Each eye received a single-piece AcrySof SA60AT intraocular lens (IOL).

The mean angle of incision was 32.96±4.2 degrees and mean CCI length was 2.01±2.8 mm. Perfect sealing of CCIs, defined as the coaptation along the whole CCI length, was recorded in 90% of cases, while in three cases, minimal gaping on the endothelial side was recorded. Inadequate endothelial apposition, resulting from postoperative transient swelling of CCI margins, was seen in 23 cases.

The authors concluded that square, or nearly square CCIs offer good stability and sealing.