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Refractive Lens Surgery

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Fig. 24.2. The tip undergoes compression and<br />

expansion, continuously changing its dimensional<br />

length. Heat is generated due to intermolecular<br />

friction<br />

Fig. 24.3. The tip moves back and forth without<br />

changing its dimensional length. Heat due<br />

to intermolecular friction is eliminated<br />

nology that has received extensive attention<br />

for improvement has been the attempt to<br />

maximize anterior chamber stability while<br />

concurrently yielding larger amounts of vacuum<br />

for lens removal. The Wave addresses<br />

these concerns of heat generation and chamber<br />

stability with the advent of its revolutionary<br />

“Sonic” technology and high-resistance<br />

“SuperVac” coiled tubing.<br />

Sonic technology offers an innovative<br />

means of removing cataractous material<br />

without the generation of heat or cavitational<br />

energy by means of sonic rather than ultrasonic<br />

technology.A conventional phacoemulsification<br />

tip moves at ultrasonic frequencies<br />

of between 25 and 62 kHz. The 40-kHz tip ex-<br />

Chapter 24 The Staar Sonic Wave 223<br />

pands and contracts 40,000 times per second,<br />

generating heat due to intermolecular frictional<br />

forces at the tip that can be conducted<br />

to the surrounding tissues (Fig. 24.2). The<br />

amount of heat is directly proportional to the<br />

operating frequency. In addition, cavitational<br />

effects from the high-frequency ultrasonic<br />

waves generate even more heat.<br />

Sonic technology operates at a frequency<br />

much lower than ultrasonic frequencies. Its<br />

operating frequency is in the sonic rather<br />

than the ultrasonic range, between 40 and<br />

400 Hz. This frequency is 1–0.1% lower than<br />

ultrasound, resulting in frictional forces and<br />

related temperatures that are proportionally<br />

reduced. In contrast to ultrasonic tip motion,

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