Phacoemulsification is a surgical method for treating cataracts in which the cloudy natural lens is broken up, liquefied using ultrasound energy, and then aspirated. A synthetic intraocular lens (IOL) is typically implanted afterward to restore vision. The procedure is usually performed in a minimally invasive manner through very small incisions and is now considered the standard technique in modern cataract surgery.
The phacoemulsification method was first introduced in 1967 by American ophthalmologist Charles Kelman. Kelman developed the technique, originally inspired by ultrasonic dental instruments, to enable gentler surgery and faster recovery after cataract operations. Although initially met with skepticism, phacoemulsification gained international acceptance from the 1980s onwards, gradually replacing the traditional extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) in the following decades.
Today, phacoemulsification is the most widely used surgical method for treating cataracts worldwide. Several million procedures are performed each year using this technique. It is characterized by high safety, short operation times, and rapid postoperative recovery.