Phacoemulsification Of White Cataract

Phacoemulsification is considered the ideal technique for the management of visually significant cataract. The important goals in modern cataract surgery are an astigmatic free small incision with a short rehabilitation period, continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC), phacoemulsification, and in the bag placement of a posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL). Although this technique is considered safe for immature cataract there are few reports of the results of phacoemulsification of white cataracts.White cataract (which includes intumescent, mature, and hypermature lenses) constitute a significant volume of the cataract surgical load at our practice. Continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and emulsification of the hard nucleus are the two steps that render phacoemulsification challenging in these eyes.The aim of this work is to evaluate the safety of phacoemulsification of white cataract which is common in developing countries.This study included sixty eyes of white cataract, which were subdivided into three equal groups, each group containing 20 eyes based on the depth of the anterior chamber, appearance of the anterior capsule and nature of the lens matter. It considered intumescent (group I) in the presence of a shallow anterior chamber, caused by hydrated swollen lens matter. A cataract of a normal anterior chamber depth is considered mature (group II). A fibrosed anterior capsule, liquefied milky cortex, or both characterize a hypermature cataract (group III).The three groups were evaluated in terms of equivalent phaco time, efficacy and safety in different types of white cataract, the effect on corneal