Mechanical Pupil Dilation, Posterior Capsule Rupture, and Cystoid Macular Edema in Illuminated Chopper-assisted Cataract Surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of mechanical pupil dilation and capsule staining, and the rate of posterior capsule rupture (PCR) and cystoid macular edema (CME) in illuminated chopper-assisted cataract surgery.

METHODS

One university hospital, retrospective non-randomized consecutive case series. Six hundred forty-eight eyes of 648 consecutive patients who underwent illuminated chopper-assisted cataract surgery were included in this study. The use of iris hooks and capsule staining, pupil size, operation time, and complications (PCR and CME) were evaluated.

RESULTS

In 39 of the 648 eyes (6.02%), the red reflex was insufficient for safe cataract surgery. Of 39 eyes, iris hooks and capsule staining were used in 7 (17.9%) and 1 (2.56%), respectively, while even without any iris hooks or capsule staining, illuminated chopper-assisted capsulorhexis was safely performed in 31 (79.5%) eyes. The rates of PCR and clinically significant CME were 0% (0/648 eyes) and 4.1% (26/648 eyes), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Not only the use of mechanical pupil dilation and capsule staining but also PCR were very low in illuminated chopper-assisted cataract surgery.