Phacoemulsification efficiency with a radiused phaco tip.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate radiused and nonradiused phacoemulsification tips to determine which tip is more efficient in removal of lens fragments using 3 ultrasound (US) modalities.


METHODS
John A. Moran Eye Center Laboratories, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
Porcine lens nuclei were formalin-soaked for 2 hours or 3 hours and then divided into 2.0 mm cubes. Thirty-degree, 0.9 mm beveled radiused tips and nonradiused tips were used with torsional, transverse, and micropulsed US modalities. Bent tips were used with torsional and transversal US, and straight tips were used with micropulsed US. Efficiency (time to lens removal) and chatter (number of lens fragment repulsions from the tip) were determined.


RESULTS
The mean phacoemulsification efficiency was statistically significantly decreased (increased time for removal) with the radiused tip compared with the nonradiused tip for torsional US only (2-hour soaked lenses: 2.14 seconds ± 1.94 [SD] versus 1.18 ± 0.69 seconds [P < .05]; 3-hour soaked lenses: 5.07 ± 4.2 seconds versus 2.52 ± 1.99 seconds [P < .05]). There was no difference in chatter results.


CONCLUSIONS
The radiused tip showed decreased efficiency with torsional US only.


BACKGROUND
No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Isha
I
Gupta
From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Brian
B
Zaugg
From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Brian C
BC
Stagg
From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
William R
WR
Barlow
From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Jeff H
JH
Pettey
From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Jason D
JD
Jensen
From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Kevin R
KR
Kirk
From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Electronic address: randallj.olson@hsc.utah.edu.
Randall J
RJ
Olson
D000818:Animals; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves; D007907:Lens Nucleus, Crystalline / Q000601:surgery*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013552:Swine; D014465:Ultrasonics / Q000295:instrumentation