Complications of phacoemulsification.

Charles Kelman performed the first phacoemulsification operation in 1967, but it was not until 1971 that the technique had been sufficiently refined to allow its use by others. Now over 2,000 surgeons have been trained in the technique, and more than 100,000 cases have been performed. However, extended follow-up in any given series has been difficult because of the wide geographic distribution of patients, and interpretation is hampered by the frequent insertion of intraocular lenses in these patients. The present series attempts to carefully document operative and postoperative complications encountered in a consecutive series of patients whose senile cataracts were treated by phacoemulsification.