Induction of cataracts of varying degrees of hardness in human eyes obtained postmortem for cataract surgeon training

PURPOSE: To report a method of inducing nuclear cataracts of varying degree of hardness using intralenticular injection of the Karnovsky solution. METHODS: Twelve postmortem human eyes were pre pared according to the Miyak e-Apple posterior video technique. After performing capsulorhexis and hydro dissection/delineation, 0.2 mi of the Karnovsky solution was injected into the lens nucleus of the eyes. Manual extracapular cataract extraction techn iques and various two-handed phacoemulsification maneuvers were then practi ced at various time intervals after the injection. RESULTS: Uniform nuclear cataracts with varying degrees of hardness were su ccessfully induced in all globes. The optimum dose of the Karnovsky solutio n and time for induction Of nuclear hardness of grade 3 (ideal for practici ng two-handed phacoemulsification maneuvers) were 0.2 mi and 15 minutes, re spectively. CONCLUSION: The Karnovsky solution can be successfully used for the inducti on of hard, uniform nuclear cataracts for learning/practicing extracapular cataract extraction and phacoemulsification. (Am J Ophthalmol 2000;129:557- 558, (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.).