Cathleen M. McCabe, MD: Phacoemulsification

A roundtable discussion on the impact of IOP on surgical efficiency and ocular health.

Moderator: CATHLEEN M. MCCABE, MD

Panelists: ZAINA AL-MOHTASEB, MD, JOHN A. HOVANESIAN, MD, MATTHEW P. RAUEN, MD

Introduction

Cathleen M. McCabe, MD: Phacoemulsification revolutionized cataract surgery in the late 1960s. Still considered the gold standard for cataract extraction, phacoemulsification continues to evolve with innovations in technology and techniques.1 For many years, limitations in phacoemulsification systems required us to operate at a high IOP to ensure efficient aspiration flow and vacuum and to maintain a stable anterior chamber. Recently, however, more focus has been placed on the benefits of operating at amore physiologic IOP to avoid unnecesary impact on ocular structures. All of us on this panel are motivated to perform cataract surgery at a physiologic IOP.