Outcomes of temporal clear cornea versus superior scleral tunnel phacoemulsification incisions in a university training program.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the complication and visual outcomes of residents performing temporal clear cornea (TCC) compared to superior scleral tunnel (SST) phacoemulsification.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective analysis of complications and visual outcomes for 534 phacoemulsification procedures done by third-year residents over a five-year period (June 1992-July 1997) at the department of ophthalmology, University of Chicago. All cases were completed using a TCC or SST incision.


RESULTS
There was vitreous loss in 6.0% of 348 eyes with TCC incisions and in 11.8% of 186 eyes with SST incisions (P < 0.02). Posterior capsule breaks occurred in 1 1.5% of the TCC group versus 17.7% in the SST group (P < 0.0453). Best corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better was achieved in 82.5% of all eyes with TCC incisions and in 75.3% of all eyes with SST incisions (P < 0.05). When 151 patients with previous ophthalmic conditions were excluded, the difference in BCVA between the two groups was not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Most institutions train residents with the SST technique prior to advancing to TCC. This study demonstrates that with proper teaching, residents can achieve excellent outcomes using TCC incisions, and can therefore be trained in this technique concurrently with SST incisions.
Karp
K O
KO
Deparmtent of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Chicago, Illinois 60637-1454, USA.
Albanis
C V
CV
Pearlman
J B
JB
Goins
K M
KM
D002641:Chicago; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity