Application of a prechop technique using a reverse chopper in small pupil cataract surgery

BACKGROUND: To analyze the value of a prechop technique for splitting the nucleus of the lens using a reverse chopper in small-pupil cataract surgeries. A prospective case-control study. Thirty-four cataract patients (34 eyes) who were treated in our center from March 2019 to December 2019 were enrolled and then divided into two groups: small pupil group (18 patients; 18 eyes) and normal pupil group (16 patients; 16 eyes). METHODS: The prechop technique was applied in both groups, and the patients were followed up for three months. The best-corrected visual acuity (BVCA), surgical complications, corneal endothelial cell loss, pupil function, operative time, and cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) were compared between these two groups, and the safety of the nucleus-chopping technique was evaluated. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 23.0 software packages. BVCA, surgical complications, rate of corneal endothelial cell loss, pupil function, operative time, and CDE. RESULTS: The surgery was smooth in all cases. The operative time, intraoperative ultrasound energy consumption, BVCA, and surgical complications indicated no significant difference between the two groups (all P>0.05). In the small pupil group, BVCA was significantly improved after surgery and achieved its optimal value three months after surgery (χ(2)=49.38; P=0). The diameter of the pupil was about 3.22 mm in the small pupil group before nucleus chopping. The postoperative pupil morphology was not statistically different from that before surgery (pupil morphology: χ(2)=0.131; P=0.717); however, the pupillary light reflex was significantly improved after surgery (χ(2)=8.378; P=0.004), and the pupil diameter was significantly increased (T=−3.494; P=0.003). The rate of corneal endothelial cell loss was higher in small pupil group than in the normal pupil group in the 3rd postoperative month, but the difference was not statistically significant (T=−0.023; P=0.982). CONCLUSIONS: The prechop technique using a reverse chopper in small-pupil cataract surgery occupies a similar operative time, cumulative energy consumption during operation, BVCA, pupil morphology, and rate of corneal endothelial cell loss, comparing with those in normal-pupil cataract surgery. To such a degree, it is a safe, high-efficiency, a simple and easy-to-operate nucleus-chopping technique that can be used in small-pupil cataract surgery.