To compare the phacoemulsification time used in an adjunctive oscillation device and a conventional ultrasound phacomachine.

Thirty eyes had phacoemulsification with a NeoSoniX^® (Alcon Infiniti phacoemulsification system, Alcon, TX, U.S.A.) tip, and 30 eyes had phacoemulsification with a conventional ultrasound tip. Using the Scheimpflug camera (EAS-1000, Nidek, Japan), densities of the lens were measured in the eye of each patient in both groups preoperatively. The setting of parameters for phacoemulsification in both groups was identical. The power was 19% and the vacuum setting was 180 mmHg. A pulse rate of 40 pulses per second was used. For the cataract surgery with NeoSoniX^®, the setting of the oscillation angle was fixed to 100% (4 degrees). After cataract extraction, the phacoemulsification time was recorded.

The mean phacoemulsification time was 28.50±12.40 seconds in the NeoSoniX^® group and 49.87±45.55 seconds in the conventional group. The reduced phacoemulsification time was statistically significant (p<0.05) in the NeoSoniX^® group.

There was a statistically significant difference of phacoemulsification time between the NeoSoniX^® and conventional phacoemulsification groups. Therefore, NeoSoniX^® may contribute to a reduction in phacoemulsification time in all applications and can be an effective adjunctive device in a conventional phacomachine.