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Laser cataract surgery significantly reduces effective phacoemulsification time when compared to standard cataract surgery

Session Details

Session Title: Femto-cataract

Session Date/Time: Monday 07/10/2013 | 08:00-10:00

Paper Time: 09:08

Venue: Forum (Ground Floor)

First Author: : T.Schultz GERMANY

Co Author(s): :    H. Dick   I. Conrad-Hengerer           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To compare the effect of femtosecond laser cataract surgery on effective phacoemulsification time with standard cataract surgery.

Setting:

A prospective trial was conducted to assess effective phacoemulsification time (EPT) following capsulotomy and lens fragmentation with a laser for cataract surgery (Catalys Precision Laser System, OptiMedica, California USA).

Methods:

198 patients underwent conventional cataract surgery and 637 patients underwent laser cataract surgery (LCS). Preoperative nuclear opacity was estimated by one independent physician with a slitlamp (Haag-Streit, Bern, Schweiz) and graded according to the LOCS III nuclear opacity score. Both groups underwent phacoemulsification using pulsed ultrasound energy (Stellaris, Bausch & Lomb, Aliso Viejo, CA, USA).

Results:

Effective phacoemulsification time was statistically significant reduced in LOCS III nuclear opacity scores two to four. Over all cases the EPT reduction was about 95%. In grade two cataracts the mean EPT was 1.35 ± 0.89 (n=73) with conventional surgery and 0.00 ± 0.02 (n=77) with LCS (p<0.05). For grade 3 the mean EPT was 2.32 ± 0.94 (n=80) in the conventional group and 0.04 ± 0.12 (n=196) with LCS (p<0.05). For grade 4 the valued mean EPT was 4.17 ± 1,68 (n= 45) with conventional cataract surgery and 0.19 ± 0.31 (n=364) for LCS (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

The use of the femtosecond laser system in cataract surgery led to significant lower effective phacoemulsification time compared to the standard procedure.

Financial Interest:

... gains financially from competing product or procedure, ... travel has been funded, fully or partially, by a competing company, ... receives consulting fees, retainer, or contract payments from a competing company, ... receives consulting fees, retainer, or contract payments from a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented, ... gains financially from product or procedure presented