2020–2021 BCSC Basic and Clinical Science Course™
11 Lens and Cataract
Chapter 8: Phacoemulsification for Cataract Extraction
Outline of the Phacoemulsification Procedure
Exposure of the Globe
After the anesthesia has been administered and the eye has been prepared and draped in sterile fashion (see the section Antimicrobial Therapy in Chapter 7 and Fig 7-6), the eyelids are held apart with an eyelid speculum. When selecting the speculum, it is important to ensure that it will accommodate the phaco handpiece and other instruments (Fig 8-6).
The surgeon may choose to be seated superiorly or temporally. This preference may be dictated by the prominence of the patient’s brow, the presence of a large pterygium or filtering bleb, or patient history of ocular surgery. Another factor to consider is the axis of astigmatism, with mild flattening induced at the site of a clear corneal wound.
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 11 - Lens and Cataract. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.