Abstract: Objective To evaluate the safety of small-capsulorhexis skills during phacoemulsification in senile intumescent cataract patients and the short-term surgery outcomes. Methords 143 senile intumescent cataract eyes (143 patients) were included in this study. They received phacoemulsification surgeries with a deliberately small continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis(CCC) (about 4mm) that was secondarily enlarged to about 6mm after intraocular lens had been inplanted. The rate of CCC completed and intraoperative and postoperative complications and short-term surgical outcomes had been statistically analyzed. Results CCC had been completed in 132(92.3%) intumescent cataract patients and secondly CCC was needed in 82 (57.3%) of them. Four failed cases suffered from breaking of the capsule and vitreous loss. Conculsion: Small continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis could help prevent unexpected radial tears of the capsulotomy during phacoemulsification in intumescent cataract patients.

Key words: Intumescent cataract, continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis, phacoemulsification