Efficacy of Balanced Torsional Phacoemulsification Tip for Cataract Surgery

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of the Intrepid® Balanced torsional phacoemulsification tip to that of the 30° Ozil® and 45° Kelman® tips using Centurion Vision System. METHODS: This study included 150 eyes that underwent torsional phacoemulsification surgery using 30° Ozil(®) tip (Group 1, 48 eyes), Intrepid(®) Balanced tip (Group 2, 52 eyes), or 45° Kelman(®) tip (Group 3, 50 eyes). Ultrasound time (UST), cumulative dissipated energy (CDE), average phaco power, average torsional amplitude, balanced salt solution volume, aspiration and operation time, and preoperative, postoperative corrected distance visual acuity, central corneal thickness were recorded. RESULTS: The mean UST, CDE, average phaco power, average torsional amplitude were 49.9 ± 15.7 s, 10.8 ± 4.5%-s, 23.9 ± 4.6%, and 51.4 ± 5.7% in the Ozil(®) group and 47.5 ± 10.6 s, 5.3 ± 2.2%-s, 12.5 ± 5.3%, and 28.9 ± 7.2% in the Intrepid® Balanced group, and 48.1 ± 12.7 s, 6.9 ± 3.3%-s, 18.9 ± 5.9%, and 39.2 ± 7.9% in the Kelman(®) group, respectively. The CDE, average phaco power, and average torsional amplitude of the Intrepid® Balanced group were significantly lower than other groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the three groups in terms of UST and operation time (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Intrepid(®) Balanced tip, by means of its distinctive “double bent” design and balanced energy distribution, offers more effective phacoemulsification compared to conventional 30° Ozil(®) and 45° Kelman(®) tips.