UCLA residents review “ Intraocular pressure study using Centurion phacoemulsification technology ” Intraocular pressure study using Centurion phacoemulsification technology

Background As UCLA residents, we have the privilege of operating at 4 separate hospitals, each of them with a different phacoemulsification platform. Understanding the various phaco settings and occlusion surge minimizing features of each platform helps us maintain safety and efficiency as we rotate through our multiple hospitals. Currently, the Centurion system (Alcon, Fort Worth, Texas) is being used at 2 of our hospitals. Unlike other phaco systems that use gravity-based fluidics, the Centurion system incorporates Active Fluidics technology, which adjusts the IOP by applying pressure to an irrigation bag housed inside the machine. The bag is connected to a balanced dual-segment peristaltic pump, allowing constant monitoring and controlling of IOP. As residents, our utmost priority in learning cataract surgery is to maintain patient safety and to ensure good outcomes. Minimizing IOP fluctuations has been shown to reduce post-occlusion surge, which in turn provides for a safer operation.1 Minimizing IOP fluctuations may also have the benefit of not only reducing post-occlusion surge, but also increasing efficiency (time to lens removal). In a previous laboratory study, Dr. Olson’s group examined efficiency and chatter and its relationship to vacuum and flow rate and found a stronger correlation with flow rate than vacuum.2 In this study, Jensen and colleagues looked at the impact of set intraocular pressure settings with Active Fluidics (vacuum, flow rate and power) on efficiency and chatter.