2.1. Subjects

This observational study was performed at the Linfen Yaodu Eye Hospital (Linfen, Shanxi, China). The research protocol was approved by the institutional review board of Linfen Yaodu Eye Hospital and carried out according to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from each subject after explaining the nature of this study.

Consecutive patients diagnosed with cataract were retrospectively enrolled between April 2019 and July 2019. The inclusion criteria were as follows: senile cataracts without systemic disease, nuclear cataract grade 3 (Lens Opacities Classification System III), no pathological alteration of the anterior segment (such as keratoconus, zonular dialysis, pseudoexfoliation syndrome, or corneal opacity), no retinal diseases impairing visual function, and no previous anterior or posterior segment surgery.