PURPOSE: The techniques and results of cataract surgery have improved dramatically with technological advancements. One of the reasons for this improvement would be the reduced use of ultrasound with the new phacoemulsification devices. The objective of this study is to confirm the theoretical advantage of the NeoSoniX handpiece. METHODS: The authors compared the results of the parameters recorded by the Legacy phacoemulsification system during 300 cataract surgeries performed with the use of the conventional ultrasound handpiece and 100 performed with the innovative NeosonixTM. All surgeries were performed by the same senior surgeon, using the same surgical technique. The choice of handpiece was random. The handpieces were compared considering cataract grade of hardness, in relation to parameters of ultrasound time, amount of balanced saline solution, and percentage of average power used during surgery. RESULTS: The analysis performed retrospectively on a chronological series of cases showed that the time of ultrasound used with the NeoSoniX handpiece was inferior to that with the conventional handpiece, for any cataract grade of hardness (p<0.000001). The volume of balanced saline solution used during surgical procedures was smaller, favoring the NeoSoniX technology (p<0.000001). In relation to the percentage of ultrasound energy used with the different technologies, an inferior value was found in the group who underwent surgery with the use of the NeoSoniX handpiece (p<0.000001). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the information provided by these surgeries, we may claim that there was a significant superiority when using the NeoSoniX handpiece in comparison to the conventional Legacy machine handpiece in cataract surgeries, regardless of cataract grade.
Cataract; Cataract extration; Phacoemulsification; Ultrasonic therapy; Surgical instruments; Comparative study
