1220: white cataract phaco puncture

This is a resident case of an intumescent white cataract. We have covered this topic many times and the theme is the same: the cortex has become liquefied and now the capsular bag is pressurized. When the pressure in the capsular bag is higher than the pressure in the anterior chamber, there is a risk of the dreaded Argentinian flag sign.

In this case the phaco probe will be used to puncture the anterior lens capsule and aspirate out much of the liquefied lens material, thereby decompressing the capsular bag. A small capsulorhexis is initially made and then the lens material is aspirated using the IA probe. Once the IOL is implanted, the capsular opening is enlarged and centered appropriately.

click to learn from this resident case of an intumescent white cataract: