Phacoemulsification Technique

Removing the Lens and Inserting the Artificial Lens

The lens is divided into three different portions: the center part called the nucleus, the outer part called the cortex, and surrounding both of these portions is a thin transparent membrane called the lens capsule which is like a piece of saran wrap, or the outer skin of a sausage. The inner nuclear part is actually more dense than the outer, soft, cortical part.

In order to remove a cataract we must first create
a circular hole in the lens capsule and then take the inner nucleus of the lens out, which is soft like the inside of a sausage. The inner nucleus must be removed with a phacoemulsification machine (phaco - lens; emulsification - to liquify). This machine has a metal probe that vibrates back and forth at a high frequency in order break into tiny pieces (emulsify) the central nucleus and gently sucks (aspirates) those pieces out of the eye.

Once the central nucleus is removed, we then use other instruments to remove the softer cortex from the eye and try to polish up the capsule at the back, in order that as few cells as possible are left there. In most cases, the artificial lens (IOL) is then inserted to replace the focusing power that was lost with removal of the natural lens.