Comparison of Modified Prechop Technique With a Novel Prechopper With Stop-Chop Technique in 225 Eyes of 149 Dogs With Hard Cataracts Regarding CDE and Postoperative Complications.

OBJECTIVE

To compare cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) and postoperative complications between modified prechop and stop-chop techniques in dogs with hard cataracts.

ANIMALS STUDIED: Seventy-nine dogs with 123 mature cataract eyes were studied for measuring anteroposterior lens diameters, or 149 dogs with 225 hard cataract eyes were treated with prechop phacoemulsification or stop-chop phacoemulsification surgery.

PROCEDURES: A species-specific prechopper (3.5-5.0 mm width) was designed based on canine anteroposterior lens diameter (APLD: 7.40 ± 0.99 mm) and anterior chamber depth (ACD: 2.54 ± 0.75 mm). Among 225 eyes (149 dogs), 110 eyes were randomly selected for prechop phacoemulsification with the specific prechopper, and 115 eyes for stop-chop phacoemulsification. Surgical outcomes, including CDE, postoperative aqueous flare and complications, were evaluated.

RESULTS

The prechop group demonstrated less mean CDE and postoperative aqueous flare incidence compared to the stop-chop group (53.93 ± 15.29 vs. 78.32 ± 21.32, p < 0.001; 35.14% vs. 58.59%, respectively). The prechop group had fewer overall complications than the stop-chop group (35.2% vs. 56.7%). Vision retention rates at final follow-up (30-1440 days postoperation) were comparable (prechop: 95.7% vs. stop-chop: 92.9%), but glaucoma incidence was lower in the prechop group than in the stop-chop cohort (5 vs. 3 eyes). CDE correlated strongly with complication severity.

CONCLUSIONS

The prechop technique with a novel prechopper offers a safer, more efficient alternative for phacoemulsification of canine cataracts, particularly in eyes requiring high energy nuclear fragmentation.