The improved access and visualization afforded by iris retractors are evident in this case. Phaco chop substitutes mechanical forces for much of the sculpting required with divide and conquer techniques. This in turn reduces the forces transmitted to the zonules. With a brunescent nucleus, sculpting half of a trench followed by 180 degrees of nuclear rotation permits the phaco tip to impale the nucleus at a deep enough level to execute an efficient vertical chop. After fragmenting the nucleus with sequential vertical chops, the elevated fragments are further subdivided with horizontal chopping. The IOL is implanted in the capsular bag following CTR placement.