ABSTRACT
Small incision, non-phaco techniques are very important to achieve consistent success in cataract surgery. There are many techniques available which permit it to be done with a high level of accuracy and competency. However all techniques at present are dependent on the lens lying flat with the hard nucleus being sheared off, or chopped off, with the nucleus lying horizontally, flat abutting the posterior capsule. The risk factors with this techniques is that the dome of the cornea may be damaged with endothelial cell loss leading to corneal decompensation, or damage may occur to the iris if entrapped between the choppers or splitters, or the incision may be damaged leading to an non occluding incision requiring sutures which enhance the astigmatism, or the posterior capsule is likely to be damaged often irretrievably with the result that a implant cannot be inserted and the with the added possibility of nuclear drop, either partial or total.
