AIM:To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety on phacoemulsification and small incision non-phacoemulsification cataract surgery, providing better options for the treatment of cataract.

METHODS:The selected 98 patients(98 eyes)with age-related cataract were divided into treatment group and control group, according to different operative procedures, 49 patients(49 eyes)in each group. Patients in treatment group accepted phacoemulsification. Patients in control group were treated with small incision non-phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Visual acuity, average value of corneal, astigmatism before and after surgeries, operation time and complications were analyzed.

RESULTS:The difference on corneal astigmatism between the 2 groups at 3mo after surgeries was not statistically significant(P>0.05). The visual acuity and corneal astigmatism at other time points after surgeries were better that those before surgeries, and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). The operation time, visual acuity, corneal astigmatism and complications of the 2 groups at different time points after surgeries had no statistically significant differences(P>0.05). If the hardness of lens nucleus was at grade Ⅰ～Ⅲ, the corneal endothelial cells counting of the 2 groups had no statistically significant differences(P>0.05). If the hardness of lens nucleus was at grade Ⅳ～Ⅴ, the corneal endothelial cells counting of the 2 groups had statistically significant differences(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:Compared with phacoemulsification, the clinical application of small incision non-phacoemulsification cataract surgery has equivalent effect. But to select the proper operation by the hardness of lens nucleus can improve the clinical efficacy.