AIM: To observe clinical effects of phacoemulsification cataract surgery and small incision cataract extraction surgery under low magnification compensation depth.

METHODS:A retrospective analysis of 869 cases(1 258 eyes)underwent cataract surgeries were taken, including 247 cases(432 eyes)with phacoemulsification, and 622 cases(826 eyes)with small incision cataract surgery. The patients' visual acuity, corneal endothelial counting, corneal edema and complications were analyzed statistically.

RESULTS:There was no significant difference between the two groups at postoperatively 1wk, 1mo on visual recovery and at 1d postoperatively on corneal edema(P>0.05). The loss of corneal endothelial after small incision cataract surgery was slightly better than that after the phacoemulsification(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:When the depth of surgical microscopes in the primary hospital is not clear enough, small incision extracapsular cataract extraction surgery and phacoemulsification will still be carried out under the low magnification compensation depth.