Outcomes of torsional microcoaxial phacoemulsification using tips with 30-degree and 45-degree aperture angles.

Purpose: To compare the safety and efficacy of Ozil Intelligent Phaco torsional microcoaxial phacoemulsification surgeries performed using 30-degree and 45-degree aperture angled tips.

Setting: Maltepe University School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology, Istanbul, Turkey.

Design: Comparative case series.

Methods: Eyes were assigned to 2.2 mm microcoaxial phacoemulsification using the torsional mode with a 45-degree (Group 1) or 30-degree (Group 2) aperture angled tip. A quick-chop surgical technique was used. The primary outcome measures were ultrasound time (UST), cumulative dissipated energy (CDE), longitudinal and torsional ultrasound (US) amplitudes, mean surgical time, mean balanced salt solution volume used, and mean central corneal thickness (CCT) changes.

Results: The mean UST, CDE, and longitudinal and torsional US amplitudes were 58.21 seconds ± 33.81 (SD), 7.74 ± 6.23, 0.45 ± 0.30, and 26.30 ± 12.60 in Group 1 and 63.83 ± 23.42 seconds, 12.36 ± 6.75, 0.23 ± 0.26, and 44.65 ± 14.38 in Group 2, respectively. The mean CDE and torsional amplitudes were significantly lower in Group 1 (P=.002 and P=.001, respectively). The mean balanced salt solution volume was 73.30 ± 19.87 cc in Group 1 and 74.30 ± 19.44 cc in Group 2 (P=.821). The mean CCT change was 52.40 ± 38.08 μm and 99.35 ± 47.14 μm, respectively (P<.001).

Conclusion: Torsional phacoemulsification performed with a 45-degree aperture angled tip provided more effective lens removal with a lower CDE and less CCT change than a 30-degree aperture angled tip.