Crater-and-chop technique for phacoemulsification of hard cataracts

We describe a technique of in-the-bag phacoemulsification of large, hard, l eathery brown nuclear cataracts. A large crater approximately 6.0 mm diamet er is created by down-slope sculpting up to 90% of nuclear thickness, leavi ng the outer nuclear rim intact. The edge of the crater is held with the ph aco probe using high vacuum, and small wedge-shaped pieces are created with a chopper. These small pieces are emulsified in the space created by the c rater. This technique permits in-the-bag phacoemulsification of large brown cataracts without complications. (C) 2001 ASCRS and ESCRS.