Phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in patients with cataract. Experiences of a beginning 'phacoemulsification surgeon'.

Phacoemulsification was performed in 125 eyes (123 patients) selected from 145 eyes (143 patients) referred for planned extracapsular cataract extractions and intended posterior chamber intraocular lens implantations. These procedures were the first clinical phacoemulsification operations performed by the author. In the total material, lesion of the posterior capsule or zonules occurred in 7 eyes (4.9%). Vitreous loss occurred in 3 of these eyes (2.1%). In cases with vitreous loss the operative strategy was changed to implantations of anterior chamber lenses. Five of the 7 eyes that experienced intraoperative complications, had preoperative complicating conditions other than cataract. Visual acuity 6 to 12 weeks postoperatively was 6/12 or better in 87% (126/145) of the eyes. Excluding preoperative posterior segment pathology, 98.4% (126/128) achieved this visual acuity. This study demonstrates that it is possible to include phacoemulsification as the main treatment modality in planned ECCE operations without significant increase in complication rates even for a 'beginning phacoemulsification surgeon'.