Every day, cataract surgeons face the rising expectations of a growing number of cataract patients who have undergone phacoemulsification. Faster visual recovery, great visual acuity without glasses, and even better visual quality are frequently requested by cataract patients approaching a refractive procedure. This installment of “Inside Eyetube.net” highlights several videos dedicated to accurate toric IOL placement, meticulous posterior capsule cleaning, and progressive postoperative visual impairment.
NEW INSTRUMENT
Jeffrey Whitman, MD, introduces the Whitman Toric Axis Marker, developed with Bausch + Lomb Storz Ophthalmic Instruments (Aliso Viejo, CA). This instrument features an astigmatic dial marked in degrees on its anterior surface for setting the desired location of the lens implant. The instrument’s posterior surface has two large radial blades, which correspond to the axis on the dial (Figure 1) (http://eyetube.net/?v=doohe).
NEW APPROACHES
Israel Rozenberg, MD, discusses a new approach to polishing the posterior capsule with microbrushes (http://eyetube.net/?v=serez).
A new strategy for removing lens epithelial cells to prevent a secondary cataract is introduced by Pavel Stodulka, MD; Robert Lehmann, MD; and Wolfram Wehner, MD. Laser pulses hit the titanium target at the tip of the laser probe, and the shock waves generated dislodge cells from the capsule, which are then aspirated (Figure 2) (http://eyetube.net/?v=ranop).
CHALLENGING CASES
Rosa Braga-Mele, MD, presents a case of a 58-year-old woman with a posterior subcapsular cataract. The surgeon performs cortical cleanup and polishes the capsule with a disposable Intrepid polymer I/A tip (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX). She then injects an AcrySof IQ Restor IOL +3.0 D (Alcon Laboratories, Inc.) and centers it on the patient’s visual axis (Figure 3) (http://eyetube.net/series/alconlivesurgery/2011sandiego/soft-chop-technique-with-iq-restor-3-0-iol/medium/).
Similarly, Richard Mackool, MD, presents a case of a 49-year-old woman with a posterior subcapsular cataract. Through a small incision, he uses the soft shell technique with a ProVisc Ophthalmic Viscosurgical Device (Alcon Laboratories, Inc.), which displaces a small amount of Viscoat (Alcon Laboratories, Inc.) against the endothelium. He uses a Mackool Big Ball Chopper (FCI Ophthalmics, Inc., Marshfield Hills, MA) to manipulate the lens during high-vacuum phacoaspiration. Dr. Mackool then inserts an AcrySof IQ Toric IOL (Alcon Laboratories, Inc.) through the microincision and dials the lens into position (Figure 4) (http://eyetube.net/series/alconlivesurgery/2011sandiego/psc-cataract-with-acrysof-iq-toric-iol/medium/). He pays particular attention to cleaning the posterior capsule of epithelial cells to avoid posterior capsular opacification.
CONCLUSION
The aging process and its effect on vision, vision correction options, and lifestyle can have a significant impact on patients’ overall quality of life. These videos address the need for cataract surgeons to customize each cataract procedure to patients’ needs and expectations just as well as refractive surgeons do for their patients.
Section Editor Elena Albé, MD, is a consultant in the Department of Ophthalmology, Cornea Service, Istituto Clinico Humanitas Ophthalmology Clinic, Milan, Italy. She acknowledged no financial interest in the products or companies mentioned herein. Dr. Albé may be reached at +39 0331 441721; elena.albe@gmail.com.
Section Editor Richard M. Awdeh, MD, is the director of technology transfer and innovation and an assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami. He acknowledged no financial interest in the products or companies mentioned herein. Dr. Awdeh may be reached at (305) 326-6000; rawdeh@med.miami.edu.
Section Editor William B. Trattler, MD, is the director of cornea at the Center for Excellence in Eye Care in Miami and the chief medical editor of Eyetube.net. He acknowledged no financial interest in the products or companies mentioned herein. Dr. Trattler may be reached at (305) 598-2020; wtrattler@earthlink.net.
