The evaluation of IOL stabilisation after femtosecond laser-assisted phacoemulsification (PE) in cataract surgery complicated by weakness of the zonular lens support

Session Details

Session Title: Presented Poster Session: FLACS

Venue: Poster Village: Pod 1

First Author: : I.Belonozhenko RUSSIA

Co Author(s): :    E. Sorokin                       

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate stabilization of the IOL position after the age-related cataract surgery with the femtosecond laser-assisted phacoemulsification and with the classical ultrasound phacoemulsification technique in patients with involution initial weakness of the zonular lens support.

Setting:

The work was performed in the State Institution Eye Microsurgery Complex named after academician S.N. Fyodorov, Khabarovsk, Russia.

Methods:

Stabilization of IOL position was assessed by biomicroscopy in slit lamp and according to Shaimpflug topography. The in-depth analysis of the surgical treatment of age-related cataract in 2 groups of patients, matched for age, sex, stage of cataract, degree of nuclear density: the 1st group (femtosecond laser-assisted phacoemulsification) – 24 eyes (20 patients), 2nd group (standard phacoemulsification) – 25 eyes (21 patients). Selection criteria – presence of involutional lens subluxation of the I degree (classification of Pashtaev N.P., 1964), mydriasis not less than 5.0 mm, transparent cornea without previous surgical interventions. Patients’ age: 53-89 years. Observation period – 5 years.

Results:

In the femtosecond laser-assisted phacoemulsification we used femtosecond laser of LensX system (infrared wavelength, “Alcon”, USA). The position of the IOL in the frontal plane was evaluated in slit lamp, and in sagittal plane by Shaimpflug topography use Adobe Photoshop CS2 Version 9.0. The significant factor in the femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery was the possibility to reduce the mechanical stress on the Zinn ligament and stabilization of the IOL both in the frontal and sagittal plane, in contrast to standard phacoemulsification, when we observe complex «IOL – bag» dislocation in 4 cases.

Conclusions:

Comparative analysis of two surgical techniques of phacoemulsification of the age-related cataract with initial weakness of zonular lens support showed that mechanical stress on the Zinn ligament is minimized and IOL position is stable during the whole observation period up to 4 years when using a femtosecond laser-assisted phacoemulsification. This is achieved due to lack of traction component in the formation of the front circular capsulorhexis, there is no need to perform a mechanical fragmentation of nucleus. This increases the safety of the surgery, and creates more favorable conditions for non traumatic intracapsular IOL implantation.

Financial Disclosure:

None