Middle prechop: Fracturing the middle portion of the nucleus

• Published in: Journal of cataract and refractive surgery Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 564 - 567
• Main Authors: Berger, André, MD, Contin, Inara Nogueira, MD, Nicoletti, Graziela, MD, Baltar Pazos, Paula Fernanda, MD, Baltar Pazos, Henrique Santiago, MD, Gomes, José Álvaro Pereira, PhD, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-04-2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Capsulorhexis; Humans; Lens Nucleus, Crystalline - surgery; Medical sciences; Ophthalmology; Phacoemulsification - methods; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the eye and orbit; Surgery; Treatment; Ophthalmology
• ISSN: 0886-3350; 1873-4502
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2012.02.001

To decrease the use of ultrasound power, prechop techniques such as preslice and Akahoshi prechop have been developed. We describe a technique that fractures the nucleus through the center of the lens before chopping. After a continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis is created, an ophthalmic viscosurgical device is injected into the anterior chamber and 2 modified cystotomes are inserted into the lens with a back-and-forth movement; a small amount of pressure from opposite sides is applied to fracture the nucleus. Hydrodissection is then performed, followed by phacoemulsification. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.