Chief & Presenting Author: Prof. Dr. Shalini Kumari

Abstract

Many techniques have evolved to enhance the efficacy of nuclear management during phacoemulsification. The main purpose of Stop & Chop technique is to mechanically break the nucleus into smaller fragments with the help of the chopper. This helps decrease the use of ultrasound power in nuclear emulsification and reduces surgical time, limiting endothelial damage. Stop-and-chop technique uses ultrasonic energy to create a central groove in the nucleus. Although additional ultrasonic power is used to make the initial trench, the resulting crater creates space and facilitates breaking the hard posterior plate of the nucleus, which is crucial to the success of nuclear chopping. This technique is relatively easy to be learned by beginner surgeons. This video beautifully demonstrates the plane, the movement of probe & chopper while trenching and chopping, and subsequent steps of phacoemulsification.