Phacoemulsification refers to modern cataract surgery in which the
human lens is emulsified with an ultrasonic handpiece which employs
irrigation of balanced salt solution for aspiration of lens material
as well as cooling the handpiece. The cataract is usually broken into
two or four pieces and each piece is emulsified and aspirated out with
suction. After removing all hard central lens nucleus with phacoemulsification,
the softer outer lens cortex is removed with suction only. Into the remaining
lens capsule, a lens implant is placed.
