Early experience with nanosecond laser cataract surgery

Session Details

Session Title: Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (Femto and Other Types of Lasers)

Session Date/Time: Monday 12/09/2016 | 14:00-15:30

Paper Time: 14:00

Venue: Hall C3

First Author: : J.Vryghem BELGIUM

Co Author(s): :                        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the efficacy of bi-manual phako-chop Nanosecond-laser phacoemulsification in cataract and Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) patients.

Setting:

Brussels Eye Doctors, private practice for cataract and refractive surgery, located in Brussels, Belgium.

Methods:

The CETUS Nanosecond laser (A.R.C. Laser) is a nanosecond pulsed Nd. YAG laser which creates a plasma induced emulsification of the cataract: a very distinct circumscripte cavitation is created around the laser tip. To assess its clinical significance towards total surgical trauma, endothelial cell loss or visual recovery after phacoemulsification,111 eyes (39 cataracts, 72 RLE) were treated in 6 months under topical anaesthesia with bi-manual phako-chop Nanosecond-laser phacoemulsification. Age range 47 to 83. Selection of cataract patients was limited to nuclear cataract grade 3. Visual quality, refraction, visual recovery and endothelial cell count were assessed postoperatively.

Results:

Immediately after surgery most eyes showed nearly no flare and/or cells in the anterior chamber, less wound leakage and faster visual recovery. At 1 month the refractive outcome was +/- 0.50 D in 78% of eyes and UDVA >= 0.8 in 68% of eyes (pre-op UDVA >= 0.8 in 9% of eyes), the BCVA improved by 1 line or more in 58% of eyes. At 2 months the average endothelial cell loss was 1.3%. During the first 2 months of the use of the NS laser, a posterior capsular rupture occurred in 3 eyes, essentially bound to the learning curve.

Conclusions:

In our early experience, Nano-laser phacoemulsification with bimanual phako-chop results in less surgical trauma and less energy distribution in the eye during surgery, when performed on moderate cataracts and in RLE patients. Visual recovery was fast and visual results were excellent.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE