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In this episode of Eyetube Journal Club, moderator Christopher Starr, MD, FACS, is joined by Donald Nixon, MD, FRCSC, in private practice and Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie, and Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, Orillia, Ontario, Canada. Drs. Starr and Nixon discuss phaco technology, specifically Dr. Nixon’s experience with the Whitestar Signature and FX handpiece. The Signature FX allows for energy dispersion with blended phaco, which avoids the clogging aspect and therefore prevents occlusion.

Dr. Nixon then walks Dr. Starr through his prospective study looking at overall phaco efficiency using the straight needle 21G system with Signature FX. Dr. Nixon compares using default settings (grade 2-3 cataracts) for all cataracts versus tailoring and adjusting the preop power settings to the cataract grading on the Pentacam nuclear grading system (PNS). His results conclude that no matter what phaco system you use, adjusting your phaco settings preoperatively allows surgeons to perform better and more efficient surgery.