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Nanosecond laser cataract surgery: one more option

Session Details

Session Title: Phaco Techniques

Session Date/Time: Saturday 05/10/2013 | 08:30-10:30

Paper Time: 08:30

Venue: Main Lecture Hall (Ground Floor)

First Author: : I.Tanev BULGARIA

Co Author(s): :    V. Tanev   S. Koleva   S. Bumbarova        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate and compare the clinical outcomes after coaxial ultrasound phacoemulsification and coaxial nanosecond laser cataract surgery.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Sofia, Bulgaria

Methods:

Sixty eyes (30 patients) have undergone uneventful cataract surgery with implantation of acrylic hydrophobic implant. Each patient received ultrasound coaxial phacoemulsification on one eye and coaxial nanosecond laser cataract surgery on the other eye. All cataract surgeries were performed by one surgeon (IT). The nuclear sclerosis has been graded from +2 to +4 using Lens Opacities Classification System III. The following intraoperative parameters have been evaluated: mean phacoemulsification time and effective phacoemulsification time (EPT) for the ultrasound group, and total energy used, as well as mean operative time of cataract removal for the nanosecond laser group. Visual acuity, endothelial cell density (ECD) and endothelial cell size variability (CV) were determined preoperatively and 6 months after surgery for both groups.

Results:

The visual acuity was improved in both groups. Mean phaco time (sec) was 0.410.44 and mean ultrasound power (%) was 20.211.8. The ECD fell from 2435±265 cells/mm2 to 2252±275 cells/mm2 for the ultrasound group and from 2335±130 cells/mm2 to 2195±165 cells/mm2 for the nanosecond laser group. The mean amount of energy used in the second group was 5.40 J per case. Average laser time for cataracts with +2 nuclear sclerosis was 5.2 minutes and for those with up to +4 nuclear sclerosis - 10.3 minutes.

Conclusions:

Nanosecond laser cataract surgery shows some advantages as alternative to small incisional ultrasound phacoemulsification. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this technique for cataract removal.

Financial Interest:

NONE