HOW TO ACHIEVE PERFECT CONTINUOUS CURVILINEAR CAPSULORHEXIS IN INTUMESCENT CATARACT UNDERGOING SMALL INCISION CATARACT SURGERY- TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

BACKGROUND Continuous Curvilinear Capsulorhexis (CCC) is an essential step for cataract surgery. CCC in white intumescent cataract is more challenging due to multiple factors like swollen lens, stretched thin capsule, liquefied cortex obstructing the view and no fundus glow. The aim of the study is to formulate guidelines to achieve perfect Continuous Curvilinear Capsulorhexis (CCC) in intumescent cataract undergoing small incision cataract surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS In our prospective study, 66 patients with white intumescent cataract underwent cataract surgery by single experienced surgeon. Staining of anterior capsule with trypan blue, soft shell technique of viscoelastic were used and lenticular decompression was carried out by aspiration of liquefied cortical material through 23G needle. CCC was completed using micro capsulorhexis forceps. RESULTS We were able to achieve good, average and poor CCC in 84.8%, 7.5% and 7.5% patients, respectively. CONCLUSION We conclude that 23G needle is simple and cost-effective mean to decompress the intumescent lens in rural peripheral settings. Soft shell technique and micro capsulorhexis forceps further help to achieve perfect CCC in controlled fashion