ABSTRACT
All phaco machines consist of a computer to generate ultrasonic waveform, and a transducer, piezoelectric crystals, to turn these electronic signals into mechanical energy. The energy thus created is then harnessed, within the eye, to overcome the inertia of the lens and emulsify it. Once turned into emulsate, the fluidic systems remove the emulsate replacing it with balanced salt solution (BSS). There is a delicate balance between phaco power, which tends to push lens material away from the phaco tip, and flow and vacuum which tends to attract and hold lens material on the phaco tip. Many of the principles outlined below will vary dependent upon the individual machine. Therefore the information in this chapter is based on general principles and the reader is encouraged to investigate the function and suggested parameters for the machine that they are using.
