PHACO-EMULSIFICATION CAUSES THE FORMATION OF CAVITATION BUBBLES

There have been reports of complications arising from damage to non-le nticular ocular tissue during the increasingly popular procedure of ca taract extraction with phaco-emulsification. One cause of this damage might be the formation of cavitation bubbles. Such bubbles are known t o produce free radicals and shock waves. This paper demonstrates direc tly the formation of cavitation bubbles at the tip of the phaco-probe. It also shows the importance of a smooth probe profile in reducing bu bble formation. Recommendations are made for probe and tip design and for the use of minimum power during the surgical procedure of phaco-em ulsification.