Subjective Difficulties and Complications of Each Stage of Phacoemulsification by Residents

Aim: To describe the subjective difficulties and complications related to phacoemulsification technique for cataract surgery performed by 4th year residents. Design: Prospective and observational study. Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the institute of Ophthalmology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore for one year from 1.1.09 to 31.12.09 in 100 cases which underwent phacoemulsification surgery by 4 th year residents trainee of fellowship Details of subjective difficulties of each stage of phacoemulsification and complications like posterior capsular rupture with or without vitreous loss, dislocated lenticulr fragments in to vitreous, descemet, s membrane dehiscence and zonular dehiscence noted. Result was analyzed and compared with other studies. Results: From a total of 100 surgeries, most of subjective difficulties were present during continous curvilinear capsulorrhexis (CCC) and phacoemulsification procedure. Complications included posterior capsular ruptured in 13(16.2%) cases, vitreous loss in 11(13.9 cases), 2 (2.50%) cases without vitreous loss, Dislocated nuclear fragments into vitreous 4(5%) cases and 2 (2.50%) cases required parsplana lensectomy, and zonular dehiscence in 2 (2.50%) cases and in 1(1.2%) cases descement membrane dehiscence. Conclusion: The resident can perform the phacoemulsification well with a very low rate of complications rate by early recognition of complications with prior training with extracapsular cataract extraction.