Posters

Changes in retinal vessel density after femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) measured by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)

Poster Details

First Author: J.Langer GERMANY

Co Author(s):    I. Bayer   M. Shajari   S. Priglinger   W. Mayer           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the changes in retinal vessel density and thickness after femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) measured by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Setting:

Prospective case series; University Eye Hospital, Munich, Germany

Methods:

In this ongoing prospective study we performed a femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) in so far 17 eyes of 17 patients with different stages of cataract. The Ziemer Z8 femtosecond laser with a liquid interface was used. Retinal vessel density and macula thickness was recorded with OCT-angiography one hour before surgery, one hour after surgery and one day after surgery on both eyes. OCTA quality was recorded as well as Femtosecond laser surgery time. In addition, pre- and postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and objective refraction (OR) were evaluated.

Results:

All patients showed an increase in visual distance acuity postoperatively with an mean suction time of 2.18 minutes. Overall comparison of vessel density parafoveal and perifoveal preoperative to one hour postoperative showed so far a not significant increase of +0,83 ± 4.13 (%)with a median of 0.65 (%) in the operated eye. An interim analysis has shown no significant changes in vessel density one day after surgery compared to the preoperative values so far. The complete results of this ongoing study will be presented at the congress.

Conclusions:

Femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery claims to be a less traumatic procedure compared to conventional cataract surgery. However, during the suction-mediated application IOP is increasing with resulting potential changes to retinal vascularization. So far in our ongoing study we found a slight increase of the vessel density at the parafoveal and perifoveal regions one hour after surgery and so far no influence one day postoperative when using a liquid interface suction.

Financial Disclosure:

None