Phaco Chop is my preferred technique of nucleus removal during cataract surgery because it is safe, efficient, and uses much less ultrasonic energy than older techniques like Divide and Conquer or even Stop and Chop. When I teach Phaco Chop to my residents, it is a relatively steep learning curve. Most residents can get quite comfortable with Stop and Chop, but they often ask for an intermediate step instead of jumping all the way to Phaco Chop. This is when I teach them Flip and Chop.
The order of learning is typically:
- Divide and Conquer
- Stop and Chop
- Flip and Chop
- Phaco Chop (in the bag, either horizontal or vertical)
In the Flip and Chop technique, the lens nucleus is partially prolapsed out of the capsular bag and then chopped. I’ve shown this technique before since I often use it for smaller pupils to avoid having to use iris hooks or pupil expansion devices. By bringing the nucleus away from the posterior capsule, it gives more room for placement of the chopper and a higher margin of safety. While the nucleus is in closer proximity to the corneal endothelial surface, the use of phaco power modulations and good dispersive viscoelastics ensure that there is no damage to these delicate cells. Clear corneas on the first post-op day are expected and these patients will achieve excellent vision.
As an experienced Phaco Chop surgeon, I tend to use Flip and Chop in these cases:
- smaller pupil where the nucleus can be brought out of the capsular bag
- very soft lens with primarily PSC cataract and mild nuclear sclerosis
- prior vitrectomy eyes to bring the nucleus out of the bag
- high degree of axial myopia to bring the nucleus out of the bag
It is a valuable technique to learn and should be in your toolbox of nucleo-fractis maneuvers.
click below to watch the video and learn this technique:
