AIM:To report the experience of torsional phacoemul-sification for hard nuclear cataract.METHODS:Totally 82 eyes diagnosed with hard nuclear cataract were randomly assigned to phacoemulsification using torsional mode or conventional ultrasound mode.Group l(torsional mode)included 42 eyes.Group 2(conventional ultrasound mode) included 40 eyes.Central endothelial cell count(CECC) and ultrasound time(UST) were compared before and after operation.The percentage of endothelial cell loss was compared in two groups 1 week and 1 month after operation.RESULTS:In the torsional group,UST was 125±34 seconds,that of conventional ultrasound group was 173±41 seconds.The UST of torsional group was significantly shorter than that of the conventional ultrasound(P<0.05).In torsional group,CECC of 1 week and 1 month after operation were 1828±327 cells/mm2,1809±453 cells/mm2,it’s statistically significant compared to traditional mode(P<0.05).The torsional group’s loss rate of CECC was 17.47%,significantly less than ultrasound group(21.62%) as well(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The torsional mode is a safe and effective phacoemulsification mode for hard nuclear cataract extraction.It can reduce UST and the trauma of endothelial cells.