[Potential of the water jet in cataract surgery].
Though cataract surgery is highly developed today, there are still problems such as endothelial cell loss after surgery and the occurrence of aftercataract. To reduce these complications we looked for techniques with a high degree of safety and precision. We found the water jet, an instrument already well established in liver surgery. We tested the possibility of improving the results of cataract surgery using the water jet method.


METHODS
We performed cataract surgery--phacoemulsifikation and polishing of the capsule--on freshly enucleated porcine bulbs using water jet and by conventional procedures. By scanning electron microscope examination we compared the results. Additionally we emulsified human lens nuclei obtained by extracapsular cataract extraction using the water jet.


RESULTS
The epithelial cells and lens fragments on the capsule were considerably reduced after the water jet procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show the possibility of improvement of cataract surgery by using the water jet. Further studies are necessary to adapt this technique to routine surgery in humans.
Wilhelm
F
F
Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle Wittenberg.
Holtkamp
A
A
Darman
J
J
Hanschke
R
R
Duncker
G
G
Pein
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011312:Pressure; D013552:Swine; D014867:Water
D014867:Water
Was kann der Wasserstrahl in der Kataraktchirurgie?