Objective      To observe the clinical outcome of phacoemulsification through 1.8 mm coaxial microincision and compare it with that of phacoemulsification through 3.2 mm coaxial incision.       Methods       Sixty eyes of 46 patients with age-related cataract (grade Ⅲ lens opacity) at the age of 55 to 78 years were randomly divided into group A (n=28) and group B (n=32). Eyes in group A underwent phacoemulsification through 1.8 mm coaxial microincision and artificial lens implantation while those in group B underwent phacoemulsification through 3.2 mm coaxial incision and artificial lens implantation. Phaco power and time were recorded during operation. The patients were followed up in 1 day

1 week and 1 month after operation

during which corneal astigmatism

visual acuity of naked eyes

corneal endothelial cell count and complications were recorded.       Results       No significant difference was found in the average phaco time (APT)

effective phaco time (EPT) and average phaco power (AVE) between the two groups during operation (P0.05）. The visual acuity of naked eyes was better in group A than in group B in the first week after operation（P0.05）with no significant difference between the two groups on 1 day and in the first month after operation（P0.05）. The surgical astigmatism in group A was less than that of group B in every time point（P0.05）.No statistically significant difference was found in the corneal endothelial cell count between the two groups in every time position after operation（P0.05）.       Conclusion      Phacoemulsification through 1.8 mm coaxial microincision can reduce the corneal astigmatism

rapidly restore the early visual acuity

stabilize the seal of anterior chamber

and is thus a safe and reliable procedure for cataract.