Objective  To compare energy consumption and surgical complications between stop-and-chop and divide-and-conquer techniques in phacoemulsification performed by phaco beginners.
Methods  4 phacoemulsification beginners were divided into two groups.  A and B in Group 1 were designed with divide-and-conquer technique and C and D in Group 2 with the stop-and-chop technique in their early phaco stage. Each surgeon chose 40 cases of cataract with grade III nucleus in their early first 100 cases. The main parameters observed were average phaco time, average phaco energy, effective phaco time (EPT), post capsule rapture (PCR) rate, and corneal edema at the first postoperative day. T-test and chi-test was used for data statistical analyzing.
Results  The average phaco time was: 74.6 seconds for A, 56.1 seconds for B, 111.2 seconds for C and 152.5 seconds for D. And the average phaco energy was: 21.4 for A, 22.9 for B, 17.2 for C and 14.7 for D.  The EPT were: 16.2 seconds for A, 12.6 seconds for B, 19.9 seconds for C and 22.8 seconds for D.  The corneal edema rates at the first postoperative day were: 20.0% for A, 13.1% for B, 44.7% for D and 42.9% for D. PCR incidence was 2% for A, 4.3% for B, 15% for C, and 11.7% for D. The average phaco time was shorter in Group 1 than Group 2, and the average energy was stronger in Group 2 than Group 1, although the difference of EPT between 2 groups was not significant. The corneal edema happened more often and more seriously in Group 2 than Group 1. And PCR incidence was higher in Group 2 than Group 1.
Conclusion  As a phaco beginner, the divide-and-conquer technique for Grade III nucleus cataract maybe is a better choice because of its effectiveness, safety, easy manipulation, and less time consuming and fewer complications.