Comparison of visual outcomes and complications between conventional and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery

Session Details

Session Title: Presented Poster Session: FLACS

Venue: Poster Village: Pod 1

First Author: : Y.Daoud USA

Co Author(s): :    D. Dzhaber   O. Mustafa   A. Mihailovic                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To investigate the safety and efficacy of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery compared with conventional phacoemulsification cataract extraction.

Setting:

Cornea division, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Methods:

In this prospective, randomized, controlled study one eye of each patient had standard phacoemulsification (control group) and the other eye had FLACS (study group), both with intraocular lens implantation. In the study group corneal incisions, capsulotomy, and lens fragmentation were performed by means of femtosecond laser. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) were measured preoperatively and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 moths postoperatively. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and manifest refraction (MRx) were measured preoperatively, as well as, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. All study participants were monitored intraoperatively and postoperatively for complications.

Results:

124 eyes of 62 patients were analyzed. Postoperative UCVA and BCVA were statistically significantly better (P<0.05) compared with preoperative data in both groups during the observational period. However, there was no significant difference noticed in these values between two groups (P>0.05). There was increase in IOP on postoperative day one in both groups: 20.6±5.7 vs 15.5±3.1 in the study group and 18.4±5.6 vs 15.8±3.2 in the control group (P<0.05). This increase was statistically significant between two groups (P<0.05). There was one case of intraoperative posterior capsular block syndrome in the study group with implantation of intraocular lens in the sulcus.

Conclusions:

FLACS did not demonstrate clinically meaningful improvements in visual outcomes over conventional phacoemulsification. Early IOP spike can be observed in eyes undergoing cataract extraction with femtosecond laser assistance.

Financial Disclosure:

None