Small peripheral anterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis.

Cataract surgery is routinely performed using an anterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC). A manual surgical technique is described for performing a small (less than 1.5 mm diameter) anterior CCC. This technique's applications extend from Phaco-Ersatz, a cataract surgical technique designed to restore accommodation to pediatric cataract surgery. An experimental rabbit study was conducted to determine the feasibility of the technique. Up to 9 small peripheral anterior CCCs were made in the same lens capsule without the capsule tearing. The mean diameter of the CCCs was 1.1 mm +/- 0.3 (SD). A 30 gauge needle and Utrata capsulorhexis forceps were used to construct the CCC. This technique shows promise for the successful performance of small CCCs in Phaco-Ersatz procedures and pediatric cataract surgery.