Cataract surgeons historically had to operate at higher infusion pressures to allow for adequate
anterior chamber stability with efficient aspiration flow rates and vacuum. Higher pressures helped to
compensate for dynamic pressure losses and shallowing of the anterior chamber resulting from flow in
gravity-based phacoemulsification systems. The increase in infusion pressure corresponds to an
increase in intraoperative IOPs beyond physiological levels, thereby increasing the risk of damaging
ocular tissues.

Today’s advanced technology overcomes challenges from gravity-based systems by moving to
active fluidics technology and integrated response systems that early detect and compensate for
surge effects caused by occlusion breaks. These innovations enable surgeons to operate at a
lower intraoperative IOP. This medical backgrounder presents supporting evidence for using lower
IOP during cataract surgery to minimize trauma to ocular tissues, improve patient comfort and
maintain surgical efficiency.