Materials and Methods: In 8 consecutive eyes, by the new technique, after completing vitrectomy in convention 3-port method, a chandelier illumination light source was used for illumination, a phaco- chopper was used in the non-dominant hand and the phacofragmatome in the dominant hand. This method was compared with 12 consecutive patients (12 eyes) receiving standard phacofragmentation.

Results: Mean age at presentation between the two groups was comparable in demography, and presenting and postoperative vision as follows. Age: Standard method: mean age 69.66±12.01 years (95% C.I. 62.86-76.46), New method: mean age 70.13±11.47 years (95% C.I. 62.18-78.08), p=0.93 ); Mean pre-operative vision: Standard method-1.93±0.94 log MAR, New method- 1.97±0.86 logMAR, p=0.9; Mean postoperative vision Standard method- 0.55 + 0.16 logMAR, New method 0.53±0.12 logMAR, p=0.7). The mean duration taken for completion of fragmentation was 3.27±0.87 minutes, (95% C.I. 2.78-3.76 minutes) and 1.91±0.66 minutes, (95% C.I. 1.45- 2.37 minutes) p=0.0001 respectively. The mean foveal thickness on day 1 postoperative was 194±84 microns (95% C.I. 10.37-247.63 microns) and 210±62 microns (95% C.I. 149.49-230.51 microns) respectively (p=0.62).

Conclusion: Phacofragmentation using chandelier illumination, assisted with a chopper, is a safe and fast alternative technique to standard phaco-fragmentation. Keywords : Phaco-fragmentation, retained lens matter, chandelier, chopper