Laser instead of ultrasound: results of the first 100 consecutive cases of cataract surgery with nanosecond laser phacoemulsification

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: 15:10

Venue: Hall C3

First Author: : A.Liekfeld GERMANY

Co Author(s): :                        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of the first 100 consecutive cases of cataract surgery performed by nano laser technique. To prove the new technique to be at least as good as the current gold standard, the ultrasound phacoemulsification.

Setting:

eye clinic, Klinikum Ernst von Bergmann gGmbH, Potsdam, Germany

Methods:

Intra- and postoperative parameters of the first 100 routine cataract patients who underwent surgery with the new nano laser technique were evaluated. Intraoperative delivered energy, duration of surgery, endothelial cell loss and postoperative visual acuity 1 to 3 months postoperatively were assessed. Only cataracts between LOCS grades 2 and 4 were included. The used laser was the pulsed Q-switched Nd:YAG laser CetusTM (by A.R.C.).

Results:

Intraoperatively 2 capsular ruptures occurred, 3 surgeries were converted into ultrasound phacoemulsification. Total energy delivery into the eye was 0.617 (+0.533) Joule in average. One month postoperatively no significant endothelial cell loss was seen (preoperatively 2028 (+235) cells/ mm2; postoperatively 1998 (+248) cells/mm2). All patients showed a significant increase of visual acuity after surgery (in average from 0.32 to 0.63).

Conclusions:

Cataract surgery with the nano laser technique has a steep lerning curve for an experienced surgeon. This method does not need any additional facilities or space and is easily transferred to routine cataract surgery. Energy delivery into the eye is significant lower than with ultrasound or femto laser assisted surgery. Our first 100 conducted nano laser cataract surgeries showed no significant endothelial cell loss and good clinical results. Long term results have to be awaited for evaluation of a possible clinical superiority of this new method.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE