Training Fellows in Phaco Surgery for Posterior Polar Cataracts

Monday, April 28, 2014: 1:43 PM
Room 150 (Boston Convention and Exhibition Center)
Luz Marina Melo, MD, Clínica Oftalmológica del Caribe, Barranquilla, Colombia
Luis Escaf, MD, Clinica Oftalmologica del Caribe, Barranquilla, Colombia

Narrative Responses:

Purpose
Train fellows in a safe technique to approach posterior polar cataracts with hard as well as with soft nuclei.

Methods
Teaching fellows  the antiblockage technique and special  parameters. The trainees use the Kitaro system to practice the maneuvers before live surgery.  It has been demostrated  by Vasavada et al, among others, that during the hydrodissection is  where the intraocular pressure raises the most. Antiblockage technique: after the capsulorhexis and prior to hydrodissection  a groove is performed in the center of the nuclei and dividing it into two parts so that the fluid can flow through this space decreasing the intraocular pressure and preventing capsular blockage decreasing the chances of tearing of the capsule in posterior polar cataracts.

Results
In our hands, applying the antiblockage technique and other special parameters have decreased significantly the tearing or rupture of the posterior capsule in the posterior polar cataracts.

Conclusion
We can conclude that in our hands the use of the antiblockage technique and the ultrachopper has been very useful.  It is a very safe, easy and reproducible technique and our outcomes for posterior polar cataracts have improved with this technique.