Safety and efficiency of lens cortex removal assisted by fluid jet

Background: This retrospective study investigated the safety and efficiency of lens cortex removal assisted by a fluid-based capsular polishing technique called a fluid jet.Methods: This was a retrospective case study. A total of 300 patients were included in this study. All patients underwent phacoemulsification using two different surgical sequences: a fluid jet before irrigation/aspiration (I/A) and an I/A before the fluid jet. They were divided into two groups: the fluid jet before I/A group (group 1, 150 eyes) and the I/A before the fluid jet group (group 2, 150 eyes). The frequencies of posterior capsule rupture (PCR) and posterior capsule being sucked into the I/A tip were recorded. The times of the fluid jet, I/A cortex, and entire procedure were noted.Results: PCR occurred only in group 2. Compared with group 1, the posterior capsule being sucked into the I/A tip was more frequent in group 2 (P = 0.003). The fluid jet time was longer in group 1 than that in group 2 (P < 0.001). The I/A cortex time was shorter in group 1, and total time for fluid jet and I/A cortex together was shorter in group 2 (P = 0.014 and P = 0.007, respectively). However, the time of the entire procedure was shorter in group 1 (P < 0.001).Conclusions: Fluid jet-assisted lens cortex removal is safe, time-saving, and simple to perform.