Abstract

There have been many techniques described for chopping the cataractous nucleus (Phaco-fragmentation) in phacoemulsification surgery. Most of them are modifications of either horizontal, vertical chop or combination of both. Here we present a case of topical phacoemulsification employing the 'groove and chop' technique. In this technique, surgeon first makes a shallow groove in the nucleus using phaco-1 parameters and then proceeds to chop the nucleus in 2 hemi nuclei and then into multiple fragments using the phaco-2 parameters. Making a groove aids the phaco probe to get a better hold of the nucleus before the chopping. It becomes very easy then to proceed with phacofragmentation. Rest of the steps of surgery have been illustrated in the video.