Efficiency of phacoemulsification handpieces with high and low intraocular pressure settings.

Purpose: To compare the efficiencies of the Active Sentry handpiece at low IOP (20 mmHg) to the Ozil handpiece at high IOP (50 mmHg).

Setting: Private practice (Medford, OR, USA).

Design: Single site, prospective, double-arm, randomized, contralateral eye study.

Methods: The first operated eye was randomized to receive phacoemulsification with either the Active Sentry handpiece at 20 mmHg (Active Sentry group) or the Ozil handpiece at 50 mmHg (Ozil group). The second operated eye was assigned to the other group. Outcome measures included phaco time, total aspiration time, aspiration time during phaco, fluid use, cumulative dissipated energy, total torsional time, total longitudinal time, and central corneal thickness.

Results: A total of 36 subjects (72 eyes) completed the study. Mean total aspiration time was 90.1 ± 16.4 s in the Active Sentry group and 85.1 ± 17.0 s in the Ozil group (p > 0.05). Mean aspiration time during phaco was 40.9 ± 8.5 s in the Active Sentry group and 40.4 ± 8.8 s in the Ozil group (p > 0.05).Mean total phaco time was 29.5 ± 7.3 s in the Active Sentry group and 31.0 ± 7.4 s in the Ozil group (p > 0.05). Mean total fluid volume was 32.8 ± 4.6 mL in the Active Sentry group and 33.8 ± 6.0 mL in the Ozil group (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the efficiencies of the Active Sentry handpiece at low IOP settings and the Ozil handpiece at high IOP are similar.