Phacoemulsification with nondominant hand.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of on axis phacoemulsification surgery through temporal incision using nondominant hand with surgeon sitting at the head end, inpatients with against-the-rule astigmatism.


METHODS
Eighty eyes of 80 patients who underwent phacoemulsification through a temporal clear corneal tunnel for age-related cataract and against-the-rule astigmatism were enrolled and divided into four equal groups. In Group 1A, the surgeon was sitting at the head end for the left eye performing surgery with the left hand (nondominant hand). In group 1B, the surgeon was seated at the temporal side and surgery was performed in the left eye with dominant right hand. In group 2A, the surgeon was sitting at the head end for the right eye and performed surgery holding the phacoemulsification hand piece in his right hand. In group 2B, the surgeon sat on the temporal side of the right eye and performed phacoemulsification with his right hand. The patients were followed up on day 7, 1 month, and 3 months. Parameters evaluated included average phaco power, effective phaco time, uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity, keratometry, intraocular pressure, surgically induced astigmatism, pachymetry, and endothelial cell counts.


RESULTS
The phaco time and phaco power among the four groups were comparable (phaco time: P=0.368; phaco power: P=0.294). The four groups were also comparable on parameters like surgically induced astigmatism (P=0.674), change in postoperative keratometric astigmatism (P=0.584), endothelial cell loss (0.921), change in ultrasonic pachymetry (P=0.476), and intraocular pressure (P=0.942). No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed in any of the groups. The mean uncorrected visual acuity at 3 months in group 1 was 0.723+/-0.21; in group 2 it was 0.756+/-0.21; in group 3 it was 0.748+/-0.22, and in group 4 it was 0.732+/-0.23. The best-corrected visual acuity was 0.96+/-0.10, 0.97+/-0.11, 0.95+/-0.13, and 0.96+/-0.10 in the four groups at 3 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Phacoemulsification surgery can be successfully performed with nondominant hand with a good surgical outcome. The technique gives an alternative approach where surgeon does not have to shift the position to perform on-axis phacoemulsification.
Sharma
V
V
Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Sinha
R
R
Sharma
N
N
Dada
T
T
Tandon
R
R
Titiyal
J S
JS
Vajpayee
R B
RB
D000368:Aged; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity