Effect of incisional friction and ophthalmic viscosurgical devices on the heat generation of ultrasound during cataract surgery

Incisional friction alone increased heat generation in the Legacy, a stroke-length driven instrument, more than in the Sovereign, a power-driven instrument. Ophthalmic viscosurgical devices are not only a concern due to outflow occlusion but can also add up to 6 times the heat in comparison with BSS. The need to aspirate the OVD before using ultrasound is thus verified.