Abstract: Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the improved chop nucleus technique in phacoemulsification. Methods A total of 160 eyes with age-related cataract were divided into the improved chop nucleus phacoemulsification group and the conventional chop nucleus phacoemulsification group, each group had 80 eyes. The operation time, emulsifying time, energy and other data were recorded, and postoperative visual acuity, corneal edema, aqueous flare and other indicators were observed. Results By Mann-Whitney U test, there were significant difference between the two groups in operation time(P=0.000), emulsifying time(P=0.011)and energy(P=0.005). Also, there were significant difference in the best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)after surgery 1 d(P=0.003)and 3 d(P=0.005), in the corneal state after surgery 1 d(P=0.005), 3 d(P=0.004)and 7 d(P=0.044), and in the aqueous flare after surgery 1 d(P=0.004), 3 d(P=0.011)and 7 d(P=0.026). By χ2 test, the intra-operative complications and postoperative complications had no statistical significance. Conclusion The improved chop nucleus phacoemulsification compared with the traditional chop nucleus phacoemulsification for eye tissue leads to less damage, is a safe and effective surgery.

Key words: Nuclear manual-chop technique, Cataract, Phacoemulsification