Phaco Tip 138:
Sideport Incision: Technique

When creating the sideport incision under topical anesthesia, correct orientation of the sideport blade is extremely important. The dull side of the blade should be oriented toward the inferior cornea because, should the patient develop a Bell’s phenomenon with sudden supraduction, uncontrollable enlargement of the sideport incision could occur if the sharp portion of the blade were oriented toward the inferior cornea.

This technique is important, regardless of the type of sideport blade being used, but it is critical when the sideport incision is created with an angulated diamond blade because of its extreme sharpness. If a non-angulated diamond blade is used (sharp on both sides), the recommended technique will obviously not be possible.

I prefer an angulated metallic blade for the sideport incision; inadvertent enlargement of the incision is much less likely, and the tapered profile of the incision results in a reduction of incision leakage during the procedure.

* Phaco Tip TM of Richard J. Mackool, M.D.

The parameters (instrument settings) and incision size presented here have been established by the surgeon and do not reflect recommendations by Alcon.