Impact of intelligent phacoemulsification software on torsional phacoemulsification surgery

Silay Canturk Ugurbas, Sinan Caliskan, Atilla Alpay, Suat Hayri Ugurbas

Department of Ophthalmology, Bulent Ecevit University School of Medicine, Zonguldak, Turkey

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare phacoemulsification energy parameters during torsional phacoemulsification with or without the use of intelligent phacoemulsification (IP) software.
Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight eyes with nuclear grades ranging from 1 to 5 were enrolled in this randomized prospective study. Operated eyes were divided into two groups, ie, those operated on using IP software (Group 1, n = 67) and those operated on without IP software (Group 2, n = 61). The two groups were compared in terms of ultrasound energy level, ultrasound energy time, aspiration time, and amount of fluid used during surgery.
Results: Operated eyes were further grouped according to soft (grade 1 and 2, n = 37), medium (grade 3, n = 46), and hard (grade 4 and 5, n = 31) nuclear densities. Both the study and the control groups were similar in distribution of nuclear density (P > 0.05). Cumulative dissipated energy was measured as 14.06 ± 9.92 in Group 1 and 14.22 ± 10.99 in Group 2 (P = 0.92). Total ultrasound time was 49 seconds in Group 1 and 52 seconds in Group 2 (P = 0.58). Although the torsional amplitude used was similar (P = 0.86) when IP was either on (71%) or off (68.4%), aspiration time was found to be 4 minutes 17 seconds in Group 1 (P = 0.86) and 5 minutes and 17 seconds in Group 2 (P = 0.007). Total fluid used was measured as 91 cc (P = 0.86) in Group 1 and 109 cc (P = 0.02) in Group 2.
Conclusion: The new IP software did not cause a difference in ultrasound energy levels. However, the new software was found to be advantageous in regards to fluid use and aspiration time.

Keywords: cataract surgery, phacoemulsification, Ozil, cumulative dissipated energy, ultrasound energy