title: Induction of cataracts of varying degrees of hardness in human eyes obtained postmortem for cataract surgeon training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a method of inducing nuclear cataracts of varying degree of hardness using intralenticular injection of the Karnovsky solution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve postmortem human eyes were prepared according to the Miyake-Apple posterior video technique. After performing capsulorhexis and hydrodissection/delineation, 0.2 ml of the Karnovsky solution was injected into the lens nucleus of the eyes. Manual extracapular cataract extraction techniques and various two-handed phacoemulsification maneuvers were then practiced at various time intervals after the injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Uniform nuclear cataracts with varying degrees of hardness were successfully induced in all globes. The optimum dose of the Karnovsky solution and time for induction of nuclear hardness of grade 3 (ideal for practicing two-handed phacoemulsification maneuvers) were 0.2 ml and 15 minutes, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Karnovsky solution can be successfully used for the induction of hard, uniform nuclear cataracts for learning/practicing extracapular cataract extraction and phacoemulsification.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research on Ocular Therapeutics and Biodevices, Storm Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425-5536, USA.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Vasavada
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Apple
mesh_terms: D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005404:Fixatives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects; D005976:Glutaral / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007907:Lens Nucleus, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D011108:Polymers / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D005404:Fixatives; D011108:Polymers; D005557:Formaldehyde; D005976:Glutaral; C003043:paraform