Fig. 1

Illustration of the consecutive drilling combined with phaco chop technique. a: The initial drilling into the endonucleus is made from the capsulorhexis edge beneath the main incision with the phaco tip bevel down. The angle of drilling is approximate 60 degrees, and the depth is approximately two-thirds depth of the anteroposterior lens thickness. b: After consecutive 3–4 drillings towards the center of the nucleus, a deep groove from the capsulorhexis edge to the center of the nuclear is created. c: The nucleus is deeply impaled with the last drilling and firmly engaged with high vacuum, the chopper is then inserted under the capsule and moved horizontally from the nucleus periphery toward the phaco tip to split the nucleus. d: Both the phaco tip and chopper are then spread apart laterally as they come very close to propagate a complete division across the full thickness of the entire nucleus