title: [Hard nucleus chopping technique for non-phacoemulsification in small-incision cataract surgery: two-knife chopping].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To search for a practical nuclear chopping technique for non-phacoemulsification in small-incision cataract surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We designed two choppers for dividing nucleus in cataract surgery. We used them in our clinical practice of hard nuclear cataract surgery and thus improved the choppers constantly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and forty-six cases (246 eyes) of cataract with their nuclei being Grade III or harder were involved in our observation. Nucleus had been divide into two halves at one chopping and the nuclear halves were delivered through a 4.5 mm incision safely in all cases. Visual acuity was 0.5 or better in 189 eyes (73.8%), 232 eyes (94.9%) and 241 eyes (97.9%) one day, seven days and three months respectively after surgery. Complications included corneal edema near the incision in 12% eyes and folding of the Descemet membrane in 25% eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two-knife chopping technique has the advantages of reasonable design, small incision, little injury, no limitation by hard nucleus and easy manipulation. It is a practical and ideal chopping technique in non-phacoemulsification small-incision cataract surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Jili Hospital, Liuyang, Hunan 410300, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007907:Lens Nucleus, Crystalline / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014792:Visual Acuity