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The e-mémoires of the Académie Nationale de Chirurgie

Microinvasive cataract surgery: Contributions and latest advances in phacoemulsification

Dominique MONNET

Seance of wednesday 19 june 2024 (Ophtalmologie : l'innovation au service de la précision chirurgicale)

DOI number : 10.26299/v1bw-hv19/emem.2024.21.04

Abstract

Cataract remains a major cause of blindness worldwide with nearly 20 million people affected by bilateral cataracts in developing countries. The “phacoemulsification” technique, invented in 1967 by Charles Kelman, remains the preferred surgical method to extract the opacified lens due in particular for its low complication rate.
The phacoemulsifier combines a fluidic system and ultrasound delivery. The fluidic system is crucial because it has to ensure the balance between the inflows and outflows of the anterior chamber and the evacuation of lens material by aspiration. The delivery of ultrasound must be as reduced as possible while allowing emulsification of the lens. The presentation recalls the contributions and latest advances in phacoemulsification.

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