Phacoemulsification is the gold standard for cataract surgery,1 and for good reason—over the decades it has been shown to be a safe and efficacious procedure that returns excellent visual outcomes to patients with cataracts. Every phacoemulsification system on the market can provide patients with excellent postoperative vision, with very low complication rates, however, they do differ in fluidic and torsional characteristics.
Since their introduction, the systems and the instrumentation cataract surgeons use have undergone modifications—some are now considered intrinsic to the success of the surgery, while others are considered incremental steps.
Among these improvements was the introduction of (first) gravity fluidics, followed by hyper-pressurized, and subsequently active fluidics. Gravity fluidics was popular, but some thought that hyper-pressurized infusion would provide greater stability of the posterior capsule. The latest iteration on fluidics—active fluidics—may be considered a simple incremental advancement, but I would argue it will soon be recognized as an intrinsic one.
Gravity and active fluidics overview
In phacoemulsification systems that use gravity fluidics, a bottle containing a balanced salt solution is hung above the system, thereby using gravity to control and maintain eye volume during surgery. These systems have an inverse relationship between pressure and flow, whereby the more flow there is, the lower the pressure; this is particularly true when source pressure is constant.2
Active fluidics maintains the target pressure inside the eye by having variable input pressure as a result of the system compressing a compliant, balanced salt solution-filled bag between a motorized plate, thereby adjusting for variances in intraocular pressure (IOP) and reducing surge.2 In my hands, slowing the rate of eye pressurization means cataract removal can be performed at almost physiologic IOPs of <40 mmHg. Keeping the IOP steady translates to a more consistently stable anterior chamber to work in, one that mitigates any type of surge that can occur from lens clearance, and is able to maintain an adequate amount of anterior chamber (AC) depth for the surgeon to perform the surgery safely. The CENTURION® Vision System (Alcon) uses “active fluidics” that uses a variable input pressure. The WHITESTAR Signature* Phacoemulsification System (Johnson & Johnson Vision [Johnson & Johnson purchased Abbott Medical Optics (AMO) in 2016; at the time of this study, the WHITESTAR Signature* Phacoemulsification System was manufactured and marketed by AMO]) uses gravity-based “fusion fluidics.” The Stellaris Vision Enhancement System (Bausch & Lomb) uses pressurized gravity-based “stable chamber fluidics.” Each system has its benefits and detractors, but I prefer the CENTURION® Vision System for several reasons, and the literature supports my real-world, clinical observations.
For me, the improved fluidics in the CENTURION® Vision System has led to several clinical benefits, including decreased surgical times and a greater followability. This leads to a much more efficient nuclear disassembly with less overall ultrasound energy use. More importantly, this feature helps to normalize the potentially more difficult surgical cases because I can select a target IOP. The stable AC means that the iris does not “bounce” and the pupil size is maintained, an important benefit to prevent and mitigate floppy iris syndrome and those smaller pupil cases, such as are seen in eyes with pseudoexfoliation. The AC is more readily maintained in cases where this is a greater issue, particularly with “crowded,” naturally shallow anterior chambers of the axial hyperopes, and the converse with overly deep eyes of the larger axial myopes. Lastly, the balanced and stable AC now maintains the space necessary to keep the posterior capsule back, which is particularly important in the disassembly of very dense lenses, where we have all experienced more problematic surges, and the potential capsule compromise as a result, with prior systems.
What the data say
In a laboratory study comparison of occlusion break surge on the CENTURION® Vision System, INFINITI® Vision System (Alcon), and the WHITESTAR Signature* Phacoemulsification System (AMO) and vacuum rise time on the INFINITI® Vision System, WHITESTAR Signature* Phacoemulsification System, CENTURION® Vision System, and Stellaris Vision Enhancement System, the CENTURION® Vision System produced substantially less surge than the INFINITI® Vision System or WHITESTAR Signature* Phacoemulsification System.3 This held even with the highest preset aspiration vacuum level (600 mmHg) and the lowest active fluidics pressure (targeting 40 mmHg, or about 54 cm H2O); the gravity fluidics systems on the INFINITI® Vision System and WHITESTAR Signature* Phacoemulsification System were 90 cm H2O. The authors further tested vacuum limits of 400 mmHg and 600 mmHg with typical (30 cc/min) and maximal (60 cc/min) flow rates. INFINITI® Vision System exceeded the 400 mmHg limit but no system achieved the 600 mmHg limit;3 Stellaris Vision Enhancement System had a slower rate of vacuum rise to both levels, but overall the rise times were similar between the systems.3
A small case series (five eyes; three patients) evaluated the CENTURION® Vision System system in the setting of nanophthalmos and found the CENTURION® Vision System rapidly responded (100 ms) to changes in IOP, minimized the surge volume, and returned the IOP to pre-occlusion status.4
Longitudinal versus torsional modes
Personalized medicine is beginning to become common practice in some specialties, even within ophthalmology in some retinal disease states, but cataract surgery has often been viewed as a straightforward procedure that needs little customization. The introduction of torsional phaco more than a decade ago and the combination of torsional with longitudinal techniques, however, may change minds.
In my opinion, torsional phacoemulsification was an intrinsic improvement over earlier generation systems. Traditional longitudinal systems only break up material when the tip moves forward, so half the energy is expended while the device is inactive (when the tip moves backwards). Longitudinal phaco tips have also been associated with reduced followability, whereas torsional minimizes chatter5 (more on that, below). The INFINITI® Vision System cuts lens material by using a torsional circular oscillation pattern (like turning a knob) rather than an in–out approach.6
I do appreciate what both longitudinal and torsional modes offer, and utilize both to my benefit during surgery. The less efficient longitudinal phaco allows me to occlude and build vacuum, without emulsifying through the nucleus, thus facilitating access to the first nuclear quadrant out of the crowded bag and into the center of the anterior chamber. I then switch to torsional mode within my quadrant removal setting, which allows me to efficiently disassemble the nucleus with less overall dissipated phaco energy.
What the data say
Numerous studies have compared torsional to traditional ultrasound technologies, with most finding torsional mode capable of lens removal with substantially lower phacoemulsification time and energy expended, with increased safety, and a reduction in endothelial cell loss.6–11
A coaxial torsional method has been shown to use less ultrasound power than a longitudinal method in eyes with grade 4 or 5 nuclear cataracts, but take longer, although the difference did not reach statistical significance.7 At 1 and 3 months, endothelial cell loss exceeded 35% in both groups (n=35 in each group), and those differences were not statistically significant.
The CENTURION® Vision System incorporates the OZil® Torsional Handpiece; Helvacioglu et al. showed the OZil® Intelligent Phaco (IP) torsional mode may provide more effective lens removal than a combined torsional/longitudinal ultrasound mode with a lower overall ultrasound time and less BSS volume use.8 The authors suggested the OZil® would make “an ideal partner” for femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery procedures because of its safety and efficacy in emulsifying divided nucleus materials.8
Tognetto et al. compared intraoperative parameters and postoperative outcomes between the WHITESTAR Signature* Phacoemulsification System standard phaco handpiece or the Ellips* FX (AMO) phaco handpiece. While both handpieces were considered safe, the Ellips* FX showed better performance “and may be safer in lens removal, especially in hard cataract patients.”12
Christakis et al. compared the intraoperative performance of the WHITESTAR Signature* Phacoemulsification System Ellips* FX (transversal technology), the OZil® IP, and Stellaris Vision Enhancement System (longitudinal technology) in 98 patients undergoing cataract surgery.13 The Stellaris Vision Enhancement System incorporates a foot pedal to allow independent control of phaco power and vacuum. The WHITESTAR Signature* ELLIPS* FX uses transversal technology and longitudinal movement, with both peristaltic and Venturi fluidics. The INFINITI® Vision System OZil IP uses torsional technology.13 Overall, the group found all three systems to be effective, without any significant intraoperative complications.
In the WHITESTAR Signature* Phacoemulsification System and Stellaris Vision Enhancement System groups, a straight tip was used, whereas a 45° Kelman tip was used in the OZil group. The mean total phaco needle time differed significantly between groups (p=0.02), with the OZil requiring the least amount of time (83 seconds), followed by transversal and then longitudinal technologies (99 and 110 seconds, respectively). This study found that with dense cataract the torsional group averaged less phaco needle time (104 seconds) than the transversal group (154 seconds; p=not significant ) and the longitudinal group (166 seconds; p=0.01).13 There have been reports on “clogging” of the phaco tip during cataract removal when OZil has been used, and that may increase heat buildup in and around the area of removal.14,15 However, these reports are few and far between.
Jensen et al. used porcine eyes to show the CENTURION® Vision System decreased chatter at higher power settings (linear up to 60% power, and was almost nonexistent at 60% power and higher), and suggested increasing efficiency allowed the vacuum to better engage the lens fragment on the phaco tip while minimizing the chatter.16 In a separate study on porcine lenses, Jensen et al. set the vacuum to 500 mmHg, aspiration at 35 mL/min, and torsional power at 60% on the CENTURION® Vision System.17 They also found a linear relationship between efficiency and IOP, where increasing IOP led to an increase in efficiency (R2=0.5769, p=0.0176). At IOPs >50 mm Hg, chatter became almost nonexistent. Chatter and IOP were linearly related only at an IOP between 30 mm Hg and 50 mmHg (R2=0.4506, p=0.0448).
Energy and its effect on fluidics
Cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) can vary by both surgeon and phacoemulsification technique, and even by surgical location (ambulatory surgical center compared to a hospital-based operating room).18 As greater experience is gained and more research is published, it is my belief that we will continue to find CDE is substantially lower with active fluidics on the CENTURION® Vision System, resulting in improved surgical efficiency.
What the data say
Solomon et al. compared CDE, aspiration fluid used, and aspiration time in eyes undergoing cataract surgery with the CENTURION® Vision System or the INFINITI® Vision System.19 In each parameter tested, the CENTURION® Vision System used significantly less than the INFINITI® Vision System. CDE was significantly lower with the active-fluidics configuration than with the gravity-fluidics configuration (p<0.001). The active-fluidics configuration used significantly less aspiration fluid than the gravity-fluidics configuration (p<0.001). Aspiration time was significantly shorter with the active-fluidics configuration than with the gravity-fluidics configuration (p<0.001).
A meta-analysis of published randomized clinical trials also found torsional mode to be superior for intraoperative parameters including ultrasound time and CDE, and in postoperative endothelial cell loss outcomes in patients with moderate to hard cataracts.11 In this analysis, a total of 1,765 patients and 1,759 eyes (870 treated with longitudinal phaco-mode, 889 with torsional phaco-mode) were included from seven studies. The ultrasound time and CDE values were found to be statistically significant in support of the torsional mode for both moderate and hard cataracts. The standardized mean difference (SMD) for moderate cataracts were -0.657 (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.834 to -0.560; p=0.000) and -0.586 (95% CI, -0.724 to -0.449, p=0.000) for ultrasound time and CDE, respectively.
In the five studies that reported it, mean ultrasound time was shorter in the torsional group than in the longitudinal group, and the SMD in ultrasound time was statistically significant (SMD=-0.708; 95% CI, -0.833 to -0.584, p=0.00).
In five studies that reported it, mean CDE was lower in the torsional group. SMD in cumulative dissipated energy was statistically significant (SMD=-0.533; 95% CI, -0.656 to -0.409, p=0.001). There was no statistical difference in best corrected visual acuity outcomes.
Chen et al. retrospectively compared CDE between the CENTURION® Vision System and the INFINITI® Vision System in 2,017 cases with similar age, sex, and complication rates (p>0.05) at a single center (five experienced surgeons).20 Each surgeon demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in CDE with CENTURION® Vision System versus INFINITI® Vision System (unadjusted average energy reduction of CDE with the CENTURION® Vision System was 4.971 [range 2.25–12.54] percent-seconds or 37% [range 29–45%], p<0.001] when compared to the INFINITI® Vision System). Of interest, the group also found that for every 10-year increase in patient age, there was a corresponding CDE increase of 2.38 unit (p<0.001).
The Intrepid Balanced Tip, designed for torsional ultrasound, minimizes corneal stromal changes at the incision site, by reducing the amount of energy transmitted to the sleeve and incision site.20
More recently, Khokhar et al. compared the Intrepid Balanced Tip to a Kelman tip and found that mean total CDE, total US time, torsion amplitude, aspiration time, and fluid use were significantly lower with the Intrepid tip than with the Kelman tip. There was no significant difference in mean torsion use time between the two groups, although these values attained statistical significance in higher grades of cataract.9
Heat produced during phacoemulsification can result in direct corneal thermal damage or endothelial cell loss; Ryoo et al. compared heat production across three platforms: WHITESTAR Signature* Phacoemulsification System, INFINITI® Vision System with OZil, and Stellaris Vision Enhancement System.21 At all time points (beyond 0 seconds), temperatures were lower in the INFINITI® Vision System. Regardless of platform, higher aspiration flow rates resulted in cooler tips.
High-speed imaging confirmed that, while cavitation does not contribute significantly to emulsifying the lens, it does generate free radicals, which damage the corneal endothelium. Therefore, since torsional ultrasound produces fewer free radicals, there may be a protective effect of the technology.22
More and more cataract surgeons are integrating femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) technology to their practices, but little has been published comparing the mean CDE between conventional and FLACS platforms. The femtosecond laser can be used to fragment the lens, and some studies have suggested that, in turn, decreases the amount of energy used during the phacoemulsification portion of surgery.23 However, a Cochrane Library meta-analysis of 16 studies comparing FLACS to standard phacoemulsification “could not determine the equivalence or superiority” of FLACS.24 It is hoped that future studies will incorporate patient-reported outcomes (PROs). There are meta-analyses that have yielded more positive results.25 Twenty-four studies were analyzed (n=4,903) by Chen et al.25 Compared to conventional phacoemulsification, FLACS is a safer and more effective method for reducing endothelial cell loss and postoperative central corneal thickening as well as achieving better and faster visual rehabilitation and refractive outcomes. However, there is no difference in final CDVA and surgically induced astigmatism between the two groups. Further studies are warranted regarding visual outcomes. Some surgeons are getting their own internal data ready to publish regarding percentage of patients hitting +/-0.5D when FLACS is added. It will be exciting to see those results soon.
More recently, Yesilirmak et al. compared 570 eyes that underwent cataract surgery with the CENTURION® Vision System in conventional and FLACS surgery (n=232 and n=86, respectively) or with the INFINITI® Vision System in conventional and FLACS surgery (n=193 and n=59, respectively).23 The mean CDE was significantly lower in the femtosecond group than in the conventional group with both phaco platforms (p=0.0008, CENTURION® Vision System platform; p=0.0003, INFINITI® Vision System platform), and there was a trend toward lower CDE in the FLACS group as well. However, neither PROs nor visual outcomes were reported.
Conclusion
There is no doubt phacoemulsification machines are effective and safe to use; surgeon preference is often the deciding factor. The active fluidics and torsional components of the CENTURION® Vision System yield reduced CDE output compared to gravity-based systems, which, in turn, creates a safer, more stable surgery and quicker visual recovery for patients. In my hands, I have found the CENTURION® Vision System to be a better platform than other systems.
