2M.D., Ondokuzmayıs University Faculty of Medicine Department of Ophthalmolgy, Samsun/TURKEY Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness and reliability of the visco-fracture technique in soft nucleus cataracts.
Materıal and Methods: Retrospective record search was performed of 62 eyes of 50 cataract patients who underwent phacoemulsification surgery with a nuclear grade of 1 or 1+ in our clinic. Preoperative and postoperative data were evaluated.
Results: All surgeries were uneventful and no serious intraoperative or postoperative complications have been observed. At the 1st month visit, mean corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 20/32 or better in 54 (87.1%). The CDVA was worse than 20/40 in 8 eyes having preoperative anterior and posterior segment pathologies. All corneas of the patients remained clear and pachymetry readings did not show a significant change before and 1 month after surgery (522±44 μ versus 531±32 μ).
Conclusion: We found the visco-fracture technique to be effective and reliable method in soft nucleus phacoemulsification surgeries in which novice surgeons might encounter difficulties in cracking the nucleus.
Keywords : Cataract, visco-fracture technique, viscoelastic material