Posters

Femtosecond laser assistance during cataract surgery learning: experience of a resident new to femtosecond laser platform

Poster Details

First Author: P.Arede PORTUGAL

Co Author(s):    C. Fernandes   M. Portela   M. Baptista   P. Nunes           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to assess the learning curve in the initial cases of cataract procedure performed using femtosecond laser—assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) by a training cataract surgeon without prior experience in femtosecond laser platform.

Setting:

Egas Moniz Hospital, Lisbon

Methods:

A retrospective study was conducted using the first cases operated at a tertiary public eye care department, Lisbon, using CATALYS® LASER system. The anterior capsulotomy and nuclear fragmentation were created with CATALYS®. The main outcome measurements were difficulties and complications related to the learning curve and an analysis of pre and postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), mean cylinder, and post-operative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA).

Results:

3 patients (4 eyes) had cataract surgery. The mean age was 76 years. Preoperative mean ocular axial length was 22,82 mm, mean cylinder 0,8 D and the mean implanted IOL power was 23,75 D. The preoperative median BCVA in logMAR was 0,3. Anterior capsulotomy was complete in all patients. LASER phaco-fragmentation was effective, with the division of the nucleus into smaller segments easily performed before phaco-emulsification. 1 month after surgery, the median postoperative UCVA and BCVA were 0,3 and 0 logMAR, respectively. Mean postoperative cylinder was 0,75. No cases had corneal edema or guttata during follow up.

Conclusions:

FLACS increased the procedure simplicity and security in formative stages. As a training resource allowed a teaching-learning process: a perfectly rounder capsulotomy that ensured excellent lenticular stability, largely independent of the surgeon and flexible in terms of size, shape and positioning; lower use of energy during phaco/aspiration in this training stage protecting the corneal endothelium; more independence that reinforced self-esteem and allowed to hit the refractive target from the first stages of learning. With increasing surgical cases and experience the phacoemulsification steps are performed precisely and effectively with CATALYS® pretreatment, resulting in a safe learning curve.

Financial Disclosure:

None