Experimental cataract fragmentation:instrumentation and laboratory evaluation.

A newly designed mechanical phacofragmentator powered by compressed air was tested on 200 human hard nuclear cataracts and ten traumatic owl monkey cataracts. The device, which consists of a turbine-driven diamond burr, successfully fragmented hard human cataracts, both in vitro and when implanted in the anterior chamber of rabbits and monkeys. Iatrogenic damage to the iris was noted in the early cases, but no collapse of the anterior chamber or gross damage of the cornea occurred. Iris damage can be avoided, once the operator gains sufficient skill in manipulating the instrument. The ten traumatic monkey cataracts were all removed without complication, except for one case in which the posterior lens capsule was ruptured with subsequent vitreous prolapse.