Comparison of Postocclusion Pressure Surge Between Pressure Sensing and Traditional Phacoemulsification Handpieces

Purpose To compare the Active Sentry and OZil handpieces regarding their ability to prevent postocclusion surge. Setting John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. Design Experimental study. Methods This study used the Alcon Centurion surgical platform, with both OZil handpieces fitted with balanced tips. The quad preset was used with a vacuum of 500 mmHg, an aspiration flow of 50 mmHg, and an intraocular pressure (IOP) of 70 mmHg. A rubber disk was fixed within a sealed chamber fitted with an electric pressure sensor to monitor pressure changes. The phaco tip was inserted through a small opening, and the foot pedal was set to position two. The tip was put in contact with the fixed rubber disk to replicate tip occlusion and then pulled from the disk to simulate occlusion break. 10 trials were performed with each handpiece, and pressure changes were recorded electronically. Results A significant difference ( p < 0.01) was found between the magnitude of postocclusion surge, as well as between the duration of postocclusion surge. Conclusion The Active Sentry handpiece was found to have a decreased magnitude and shorter duration of postocclusion surge compared with the OZil, signifying that having the pressure sensor in the handpiece allows it to react to post‐occlusion surge more quickly and to decrease surge magnitude.