AIM: To contrast the effect of small incision phacoemulsification and non-phacoemulsification to treat cataract.

METHODS: Totally 172 patients with cataract were divided into 2 groups(n=86)randomly. Patients in Group Phaco were treated with phacoemulsification and, while those in Group Siecs were treated with small incision extracapsular cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation. They were all followed up for 1-3y. Functional examinations were made at 3d; 1,6mo and last follow-up. The visual acuity, intraocular pressure, anterior chamber depth, average corneal power(ACP), cylinder(CYL), surface asymmetry index(SAI)and complications were contrasted between groups.

RESULTS: At 3d after operation, the visual acuity of Group Phaco was better than that of Group Siecs(P<0.05), and CYL, SAI and intraocular pressure of Group Phaco were all significantly lower than those of Group Siecs(P<0.05). At 1mo after operation, the visual acuity of Group Phaco was better than that of Group Siecs(P<0.05), and CYL, SAI and intraocular pressure of Group Phaco were slightly lower than those of Group Siecs(P<0.05); there was no difference between the two group. At 6mo after operation, the visual acuity of Group Phaco was still better than that of Group Siecs(P<0.05), and CYL, SAI and intraocular pressure of Group Phaco were flat as those of Group Siecs(P<0.05); there was no difference between groups in those indexes above(P>0.05). Furthermore, the APC and anterior chamber depth of each point-in-time had no significant difference between groups(P>0.05). The incidences of complication were similar in two groups(P>0.05); but with individual differences, patients of GradeⅡ and Ⅲ in Group Phaco got lower complication rate(P<0.05), while those of Grade Ⅳ higher(P<0.05)than those of Group Siecs.

CONCLUSION: Our research shows that phacoemulsification has high effect in the treatment of patients with GradeⅡ and Ⅲ nuclear hardness, while small incision extracapsular cataract surgery has high effect in the treatment of patients with Grade Ⅳ nuclear hardness.