Phacoemulsification
From Free net encyclopedia
Phacoemulsification refers to modern cataract surgery in which the eye's internal lens is emulsified with an ultrasonic handpiece which employs irrigation of balanced salt solution for aspiration of lens material as well as cooling the handpiece. The cataract is usually broken into two or four pieces and each piece is emulsified and aspirated out with suction. After removing all hard central lens nucleus with phacoemulsification, the softer outer lens cortex is removed with suction only. As with other extracapsular cataract extraction procedures, an intraocular lens implant is placed into the remaing lens capsule.
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History
Charles Kelman introduced phacoemulsification in 1967 after being inspired by his dentist's ultrasonic probe.
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