AIM: To report the influences onfoveal thickness and corneal edema after torsional phacoemulsification.

METHODS: Totally 52 patients(52 eyes)with age-related cataract were randomly assigned to phacoemulsification using torsional mode(26 eyes)or conventional ultrasound mode(26 eyes). The foveal thickness examined by optical coherence tomography(OCT)after surgery at 1, 4 and 12wk and corneal edema was examined by slit lamp after surgery at 1d.

RESULTS: The postoperative averagefoveal thickness datas of the two groups, comparing with corresponding preoperative datas, were significantly augmented at 1, 4 and 12wk(P<0.05); the difference of foveal thickness was obviously augmented at 1wk postoperatively(P<0.05), was no obvious differences at 4 and 12wk(P>0.05). The effects of corneal edema in torsional group were slighter(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The postoperative influences onfoveal thickness and corneal edema with torsional mode are slighter than that with ultrasound mode, and the postoperative reactions with torsional mode are efficiently reduced.