3066: horizontal chop technique – you can learn this!
Transitioning from divide and conquer to horizontal chop is one of the most transformative leaps a cataract surgeon can make, even after years in practice. In this demonstration, our guest surgeon shows the undeniable power of horizontal chop. By using mechanical forces between the chopper and the phaco tip to split the lens rather than relying on ultrasonic energy to sculpt deep trenches, nuclear disassembly becomes faster, safer, and much more efficient.
If you are still stuck in your comfort zone relying exclusively on divide and conquer, make a promise to yourself that you will put in the effort to learn phaco chop. The reduction in cumulative dissipated energy, decreased corneal endothelial stress, and heightened surgical control in dense nuclear cases make learning this skill worth every bit of deliberate practice. Watch the video to analyze the instrument positioning, vector mechanics, and fluidic control. What specific obstacle is holding you back from making phaco chop your primary nuclear disassembly technique? Please comment your thoughts below.
