Purpose: To analyze outcomes and incidence of compli-cations in 100 eyes submitted to phacoemulsification perfor-med by surgeons at the start of their career at the Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual de São Paulo. Methods: The first 100 consecutive cataract operations performed by five surgeons, in patients of the HSPE, using phacoemulsification were evaluated. The surgical technique included a scleral tunnel, continuous curvilinear capsulo-rhexis, nucleus removal by phacoemulsification using a peristaltic pump and intraocular lens implantation, under peribulbar anesthesia. Results: The incidence of complications was 15.2%: posterior capsule tear in 8.7%, vitreous loss in 5.4% and one case of posterior dislocation of the nucleus. Posterior chamber IOL were implanted in 96.7% of the eyes, 70.8% of these being in the capsular bag, 28% in the sulcus and 1.2% were fixed superiorly. The final visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 89% of the cases. None of them developed bullous keratopathy or retinal detachment. Conclusion: The complication rate was comparable to that of the literature, suggesting that this technique may be learned during the residency program.
Phacoemulsification; Learning curve; Complication
