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Cataract Surgery | May 2011

Tactics for Minimally Invasive Cataract Surgery

How to perform it, which instruments to use, and how to use the phaco pump.

The term microincisional cataract surgery (MICS) was coined and registered by me in 2001 to define cataract surgery performed through incisions of 1.8 mm or less.1 Those who truly understand this concept realize that MICS is not only about a smaller incision size; rather, it implies a global transformation toward minimally aggressive cataract surgery.

Separated fluidics for irrigation and aspiration and high vacuum with pressurized inflow of fluid are necessary for MICS. Especially in the case of soft cataracts (grades 2 or 3), the use of ultrasound can be decreased or practically eliminated, as high vacuum and infusion permit lens material to be smashed and aspirated without ultrasound power. Removal of harder cataracts must be supported with minimal doses of ultrasound energy; however, these smaller doses reduce the risk of overheating at the phaco tip and prevent thermal injury to the cornea compared with the level of energy used during conventional cataract surgery.

THE TRANSITION TO MICS

Because complications can occur during the learning curve, transition to MICS must begin with an understanding of its basic principles, including incision creation, fluidics, power modulation, and instrumentation.1 A grasp of these concepts will increase the surgeon’s chances of maintaining anterior chamber stability and wound integrity.

Incision. The smaller incision sizes used in MICS decrease the dimensions of the wound, create less trauma, and promote faster healing, the last of which reduces the risk of bacterial infection. Moreover, watertight wound construction decreases the likelihood of iris prolapse, and the absence of surgically induced astigmatism allows better control of the refractive outcome.2,3 Among the requirements for use of MICS are special surgical instruments and foldable IOLs, both of which are discussed in detail below.

Postocclusion surge can occur when the occluded mass is aspirated suddenly, causing the pressure in the anterior chamber to drop quickly. Some of today’s phaco machines include software that prevents surge, such as the Sovereign (Abbott Medical Optics Inc., Santa Ana, California), which uses a virtual anterior chamber to decrease vacuum at the precise moment of occlusion. Another strategy is to use a flow restrictor, which is connected to the aspiration tube to control inflow, such as the Cruise Control System (STAAR Surgical, Monrovia, California; Figure 1A) or the StableChamber Fluidics System (Bausch + Lomb; Figure 1B). These small filters restrict the flow so that surge does not exceed the limit values.4

Power modulation. Varying the power modulation during phacoemulsification improves the efficacy of cataract surgery.5 Strategies include pulsing ultrasound, which can dramatically diminish energy delivery into the eye, and varying on-off times and shortening pulse duration, which help achieve emulsification while protecting the corneal wound and endothelial cells. Very short power modulation techniques such as hyper pulse and ultra pulse dramatically decrease the potential for wound burn during MICS because heat penetrates the cornea during the on-time cycle but decreases during the off-time cycle, cooling the phaco tip and cornea. Additionally, short pulse energy may be more effective because it produces more cavitational energy than continuous power.

MICS INSTRUMENTATION

In my hands, MICS is performed with a bimanual technique. For a video demonstration of my technique, visit http://eyetube.net/?v=newev. I create two incisions of equal length, allowing me to use the same instruments in either wound and providing me with complete access to the anterior chamber. Having two microincisions is helpful during anterior and posterior capsular polishing and cortical and nuclear fragment removal. Instrumentation is available for standard bimanual MICS (19 gauge) and bimanual micro- MICS (22 gauge).

MICS 19-gauge. Instrumentation for 19-gauge MICS must fit through a 1.5-mm incision. The first necessity is the appropriate calibrated knife, and I prefer the trapezoidal Alió MICS Knife (Katena Inc., Denville, New Jersey; Figure 2). An alternative instrument is a diamond knife with the same proportions (Figure 3)

Regardless of the phaco technique used, a continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis (CCC) is essential. When targeting CCC creation through a 1.25-mm incision, the use of microforceps is obligatory. I use the pointed catch of the 23-gauge Alió MICS Capsulorrhexis Forceps (Katena Inc.; Figure 4) to create the tear in the anterior capsule. Following the CCC and hydrodissection and hydrodelineation, I perform prechopping with either the Alió-Rosen MICS Phaco PreChopper (Katena Inc.; Figure 5A) or the Alió-Scimitar Prechopper Micro Incision Cataract Surgery (Katena Inc.; Figure 5B). The shape of the Scimitar Prechopper, with its curved tip, blunt end, and sharp inferior edge, is designed to facilitate 700-μm surgery. The choppers are crossed by situating each one symmetrically opposite to the other, and cutting movements are made from the perimeter to the center of the nucleus. After creating two hemispheres, I rotate the nucleus approximately 90° and repeat the process. In the near future, femtosecond laser technology for cataract surgery will facilitate the prechopping process.

Bimanual phacoemulsification is performed with the irrigating chopper in one incision and the sleeveless phaco tip in the other, depending on the location of corneal astigmatism, surgeon preferences, and intraoperative conditions. For standard bimanual MICS in softer cataracts, I use the Alió MICS Irrigating Stinger (19-gauge manufactured by Katena Inc., Figure 6; 25-gauge manufactured by MicroSurgical Technologies, Redmond, Washington, Figure 7). The 1-mm irrigation hole is located on the bottom lower side of the tool. The very thin walls of the instrument increase the internal diameter and achieve an infusion rate of 72 cc/min. Infusion is directed toward the bottom of the device to assure excellent flow and to chill the phaco tip. When infusion is used to direct the liquid toward the lens masses at the back of the bag, anterior chamber stability is maintained independent of high vacuum settings. The strength of the stream keeps the capsular bag at a safe distance from the phaco tip and eases the manipulation of tools and lens masses. The remaining cortical cells are removed with the Alió MICS Aspiration Handpiece (Katena Inc.; Figure 8).

MICS 22-gauge. The 22-gauge (0.7-mm) Alió Stinger irrigating chopper Duet System (MicroSurgical Technologies; Figure 9) has one hole on the inferior side of the cannula that focuses the infusion stream posteriorly, forcing cataract fragments to levitate toward the phaco tip. This design helps to keep the anterior chamber deep and to keep the capsule far from the phaco tip. When using 0.7-mm instruments, 100 mm Hg pressurized infusion is mandatory. The pointed tip of the Stinger is angled downward.

IMPROVED SURGICAL OUTCOMES

MICS improves postoperative refractive results, as surgically induced astigmatism and optical aberrations are better controlled with a smaller incision size.1-4 Additionally, MICS techniques decrease effective phaco time and mean phaco power use across all cataract grades.

Today’s biggest limitation to widespread use of MICS is the small selection of IOLs that fit through microincisions; however, recent availability of select microincision premium IOLs has stimulated the popularity of MICS. This technique is essential for premium lenses because it allows precise control and correction of astigmatism as well as accurate manipulation of total eye aberrations.3,6-8

MICS, whether biaxial or coaxial, is the best surgical option today for cataract removal. Micro-MICS (through incisions of less than 1 mm) may be feasible in the future, but for this to happen IOL technology must be further developed. To watch micro-MICS, visit http://eyetube.net/?v=gobez. The continued evolution of laser cataract surgery and IOL technology will make MICS the gold standard of cataract surgery in the immediate future.

Jorge L. Alió, MD, PhD, is a Professor and the Chairman of Ophthalmology at the Miguel Hernandez University, Alicante, Spain, and the Medical Director of Vissum Corp., Spain. Professor Alió states that he is a paid consultant to Topcon, Oculentis, and Carl Zeiss Meditec and has a royalty agreement with Hanita. He may be reached at tel: +34 96 515 00 25; e-mail: jlalio@vissum.com.

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