Capsulotomy for phacoemulsification in hypermature cataracts.

We describe a modified surgical technique of anterior capsulotomy and phacoemulsification for use in hypermature cataracts. Surgical steps included inferior linear capsulotomy with aspiration of milky cortex, inflation of the capsular sac with viscoelastic, a reverse triangular anterior capsulotomy with Vannas scissors, and in-the-bag bimanual sculpting of the nucleus. An oval 5 mm x 6 mm posterior chamber intraocular lens was used with single horizontal or no-stitch wound closure. The technique was used successfully in 20 cases of hypermature cataract. The mean time required to perform phacoemulsification was 3.46 minutes (range 1.2 to 6.3 minutes), with a standard deviation of 1.29. Visual acuity on the first postoperative day ranged from 20/20 to 20/60 (median 20/40). At one week, the mean astigmatism was 1.01 diopters (range 0.25 to 2.75 diopters). The mean endothelial cell loss was 13% (range 3.6% to 26.0%). Based on our results, the modified phacoemulsification technique merits consideration for use in hypermature cataracts.