Comparison of low- and high-volume irrigation-aspiration systems for extracapsular cataract extraction.

A low-volume irrigation-aspiration system with a 1-mm tip (0.3-mm aspiration port) has been developed for extracapsular cataract extraction. This autoclavable system uses approximately 36% less irrigating fluid during the irrigation and aspiration of cortical material when compared to currently available models. The time required for cortical aspiration is also shortened by 33%. After three years of clinical experience with the low-volume system at the Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center, where almost all extracapsular cataract surgery is now performed with the new system, there have been no adverse effects and subsequent capsulotomy has rarely been necessary.