Lance-chop technique

Enabling Surgery for Difficult Cases

When the lens nucleus is hard and cannot be divided by the eight-chop technique, an instrument called a sustainer is inserted into the eye through a small incision separate from the incision to support the lens nucleus, and the Lance chopper is inserted into the eye through the incision to divide the lens nucleus into eight sections. This is called the Lance-chop technique. Even in cases where the lens nucleus is not so hard, if the division of the lens nucleus is incomplete, it is necessary to complete the division of the lens nucleus using the Lance-chop technique. Furthermore, it is an essential technique for cases with a hard nucleus as well as for refractory cases such as weak zonules, corneal opacity, and small pupil. The Lance-chop technique is an extremely superior technique that can safely treat most of the cases that are inoperable with the divide-and-conquer and phaco-chop techniques.

 
 

1. First, the lens nucleus is divided into hemispheres using the Lance-chopper while the
nucleus sustainer (AE-2530; ASICO, Westmont, Illinois, USA) is inserted through the side
port to support the equator of the lens nucleus.

2. Then, the lens nucleus is rotated 90°and divided into quadrants. 

3. The lens nucleus divided into quadrants is rotated 45° and divided into six segments.  

4. Lastly, the remaining quarter of the lens nucleus is also divided to complete the eight-segmentation.

Click here to see the surgical video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irRn9zJDKTc