AIM: To report the surgical effects of using a special Chop hooks technique to dilate the pupils during cataract surgery of patients with uveitis complicated cataract.

METHODS: A single-surgeon, retrospective, non-comparative case report. All patients with uveitis complicated cataract who were treated with quadrant mechanical pupillary dilatation of Chop hooks were included.

RESULTS: A total of 16 eyes of 14 patients(with 5 males, 9 females and a mean age of 58.0±13.8 years old; range: 29-79 years old)underwent mechanical pupillary dilatation of Chop hooks during cataract surgery. After using quadrant mechanical pupillary dilatation, the dilated pupil diameter was 5.81±0.46(range: 5.0-6.5)mm, and the size was maintained until the end of the operation. After the operation, the pupils were centered and approximately round, and the diameter of the pupils was 3.0-4.0 mm. In some cases, small notches were observed at the edge of the iris and pupil. However, the patients had no complaints of glare. Direct and indirect light reflections were roughly normal. After mydriasis treatment, the pupils became round and did not adhere to the intraocular lens, and the postoperative best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA)was significantly better than that before surgery(P<0.01). No serious intraoperative or postoperative complications, including zonular fiber rupture, capsular rim rupture, hyphema, anterior uveitis, corneal edema, raised intraocular pressure(IOP>21 mmHg), iris tearing, iris abnormalities and posterior synechiae, were observed during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION: With low incidence of complication, the technique of quadrant mechanical pupillary dilatation is a simple and effective procedure for cataract surgery in patients with uveitis complicated cataract.