Hydropolish: a controlled trial on a technique to eradicate residual cortical lens fibers in phacoemulsification cataract surgery.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of a noncontact, fluid-based capsular polishing technique (hydropolish) to remove residual cortical fibers (RCFs) and epithelial cells from the posterior and equatorial capsule in phacoemulsification cataract surgery.

Methods: Hydropolish involved manual irrigation of the posterior and equatorial capsule after irrigation/aspiration, using a 27-G hydrodissection cannula. This prospective, consecutive, single surgeon controlled trial was conducted at a dedicated ophthalmic surgery center in Sydney, Australia, between December 20, 2006, and July 14, 2010. Single eyes of consecutive patients underwent cataract surgery without use of hydropolish (control group), while those on or after July 21, 2010, underwent hydropolish (intervention group). Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) up to 1 month postoperatively, surgical complications, and hydropolish time were documented.

Results: A total of 1531 eyes were included in this study (hydropolish n = 682; control n = 849). After adjusting for age, sex, and nuclear sclerosis grade, no significant difference was found between hydropolish and control groups when preoperative CDVA was compared against postoperative CDVA at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month (p>0.05).

Conclusions: Hydropolish is a rapid and safe technique that can remove RCFs from the posterior and equatorial capsule in phacoemulsification cataract surgery. It does not compromise postoperative CDVA.