Phacoemulsification Outcomes with Different Illumination Techniques.

Purpose: To compare surgeon experience and the outcomes of phacoemulsification using 2 different illumination techniques for cataract extraction.

Methods: A prospective interventional case series was performed on 20 consecutive patients (20 eyes) with senile cataract who underwent phacoemulsification enhanced with a 23-G endoillumination probe. The main outcome measures were the surgeon's perception of depth of field and quality of visibility of intraocular structures, ease of performance of the surgical procedure, effectiveness, and complications related to the procedure. A surgeon-specific questionnaire was administered at the end of the procedure.

Results: Surgery was successfully performed in all patients without any complications. The surgeon indicated that lateral endoillumination markedly enhanced the details of the lens structures, mainly the posterior capsule visualization, better than the coaxial lighting with the surgical microscope. Lateral endoillumination created an enhanced 3D effect and improved the depth perception of lens intraoperatively.

Conclusions: The lateral illumination technique with a 23-G endoilluminator probe placed in the anterior chamber through a paracentesis creates an enhanced 3D effect and improves depth perception of lens during phacoemulsification. These benefits increase the safety of the procedure.