title: Small peripheral anterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis.
abstract: Cataract surgery is routinely performed using an anterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC). A manual surgical technique is described for performing a small (less than 1.5 mm diameter) anterior CCC. This technique's applications extend from Phaco-Ersatz, a cataract surgical technique designed to restore accommodation to pediatric cataract surgery. An experimental rabbit study was conducted to determine the feasibility of the technique. Up to 9 small peripheral anterior CCCs were made in the same lens capsule without the capsule tearing. The mean diameter of the CCCs was 1.1 mm +/- 0.3 (SD). A 30 gauge needle and Utrata capsulorhexis forceps were used to construct the CCC. This technique shows promise for the successful performance of small CCCs in Phaco-Ersatz procedures and pediatric cataract surgery.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Biophysics Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tahi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fantes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamaoui
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Parel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019923:Capsulorhexis / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000601:surgery*; D011817:Rabbits