What is the procedure called that treats opacity of the crystalline lens through a small incision?

The procedure that effectively treats opacity of the crystalline lens through a small incision is phacoemulsification. This technique is a commonly used method in cataract surgery. During phacoemulsification, an ultrasonic device is employed to break up the cloudy lens (cataract) into smaller pieces. These fragments are then aspirated out through a small incision, typically no more than 3 millimeters. The small incision allows for quicker recovery, reduced surgical trauma, and is often associated with fewer complications compared to other techniques.

Extracapsular cataract extraction involves making a larger incision to remove the cataract while leaving the posterior capsule intact, which is less preferred in modern practice due to the larger wound and longer recovery time. Intracapsular cataract extraction, on the other hand, involves removing the entire lens including its capsule, which is rarely performed today because it can lead to more complications and a need for more extensive surgical intervention for lens replacement. A corneal transplant is an entirely different procedure aimed at replacing damaged corneal tissue and does not address the crystalline lens specifically. Therefore, phacoemulsification is the most accurate choice for treating lens opacity via a small incision.