Aims: to compare between direct chop and stop and chop phacoemulsification techniques in grade 3 and 4 cataract patients. Design: Prospective randomised trial done over the course of one year conducted in a tertiary care hospital on 100 eyes of 100 patients. Materials and methods: After taking informed consent, patients with nuclear cataract grade3, 4 according to LOCS III without any coexisting corneal pathology, glaucoma,traumatic cataracts were enrolled in the study. They were randomly grouped into group 1 (n=50)- patients undergoing phacoemulsification by direct chop technique and group 2 (n=50) patients undergoing phacoemulsification by stop and chop technique. They were compared on parameters of endothelial cell count, central corneal thickness and best corrected visual acuity. They were followedup on postoperative day 1, 7, 14 and 28. Statistical analysis: Results: the endothelial cell loss average at the end of 4 weeks postoperatively was higher in group 2 as compared to group 1 and this was statistically significant. The average Central corneal thickness did not change between the two groups. The best corrected visual acuity between two groups was same.