Still focusing on resident cases this week and today this young surgeon does a great job with the stop & chop technique. The Stop and Chop technique is a popular hybrid approach that combines the easiness of “Divide and Conquer” with the efficiency of “Phaco Chop.” Developed by Dr. Paul Koch decades ago, it is designed to reduce the ultrasonic energy (phacoemulsification) required to remove a cloudy lens. The surgeon begins by carving a central groove in the lens nucleus to split it into two halves (the “Stop”). Once the nucleus is divided, the surgeon switches to a chopping maneuver to mechanically fragment the remaining halves into smaller, manageable pieces. By performing the initial groove, the surgeon creates the space necessary to safely manipulate the lens, making it an excellent technique for beginners or for managing particularly dense cataracts. It minimizes stress on the delicate fibers holding the lens in place, leading to faster recovery times and clearer vision for the patient post-operatively.
