Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery vs conventional phacoemulsification in terms of ultrasound power parameters

Session Details

Session Title: Femtolaser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS)

Session Date/Time: Sunday 11/09/2016 | 08:00-10:00

Paper Time: 08:24

Venue: Hall C1

First Author: : A.Assaf EGYPT

Co Author(s): :    H. Rashed   B. Fayez                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate average ultrasound power (US), ultrasound time (UST) and effective phaco time (EFX) of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery versus conventional phacoemulsification. Parameters to be evaluated in different nuclear densities and different phases of cataract surgery.

Setting:

Al watany Eye Hospital, Ain Shams University

Methods:

Eyes with senile cataract of N1 to N6. Total cohort was divided into Femto group and Phaco group. Capsulotomy and lens fragmentation were perfomred in Femto group using Catalys Prescision Laser System. Fragmentation pattern was sextants softened with grid spacing set at 350 microns. Vertical chop technique was utilised for nucleus dissassimply in the phaco group. Each group was subdivided according to nucleus density into groups; A (N1-2), B (N3-4) and C (N5-6). Same phacoemulsfication platform was utilized in all eyes. Study parameters were recorded just after nucleus chop and prior to cortical cleanup phases for each surgery.

Results:

Total number of eyes included was 84 and 109 in Femto and Phaco groups respectively. There was no statistical significant difference in mean EFX, US and UST in both groups. Comparing subgroups; EFX was significantly lower (P.039) in subgroup Femto B (34.07) compared to subgroup Phaco B (37.7) not in subgroups A & C. Mean EFX was lower in subgroup Femto C (78.74) compared to subgroup Phaco C (81.79) but did not reach statistical significant level (P.093). Comparing phases of each surgery; Mean US and EFX for nucleus disassembly phase were significantly lower in Femto group B but not in A and C. Mean UST showed no statistical significant differences in all subgroups.

Conclusions:

Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery significantly lowers ultrasound parameters only in N3-4 cataracts. Surgical technique is another confounding factor. Previous reports compared laser cataract surgery to conventional phaco without specifying phaco technique. To our knowledge this the first study to compare laser cataract surgery to conventional phaco using quick chop technique. This may explain why we had no significant differences when total number of eyes included in both groups were compared.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE