Comparison of two cataract surgery methods: phacoemulsification and nanosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery

Session Details

Session Title: Presented Poster Session: Cataract Complications & Special Cases

Venue: Poster Village: Pod 1

First Author: : G.Sauder GERMANY

Co Author(s): :                           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate corneal tissue trauma and effectiveness of cataract surgery using ultrasound (US) phacoemulsification compared to nanosecond laser technique

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Charlottenklinik, Stuttgart, Germany

Methods:

A prospective, randomized, double masked, clinical interventional study enrolling 52 consecutive patients that were randomized in two groups. Group 1 received cataract surgery using phacoemulsification and in group 2 nanolaser-assisted cataract surgery. Main outcome measures included uncorrected visual acuity and distance corrected visual acuity, corneal endothelial cell count, corneal thickness at the center of the cornea and operational parameters like mean power consumption, mean amount/volume of irrigating fluid/balanced salt solution and effective phaco- or photofragmentation time (EPT).

Results:

Patients were randomized to either phacoemulsification or nanolaser procedures. Between-group uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity were not significantly different. Postoperatively, the two groups did not present statistically significant differences in endothelial cell count. The central corneal thickness did not show statistically significant differences. The mean EPT was significantly lower in the phacoemulsification group (p<0.0001). There was a significant difference in the mean energy consumption (p<0.0001). A greater amount of balanced salt solution volume was required to complete the nanolaser procedures

Conclusions:

The nanolaser procedure was effective in cataract surgery, reducing the mean energy consumption, while it showed a longer EPT and a higher volume of balanced salt solution consumption than cataract surgery using phacoemulsification. The nanolaser also did not have disadvantages over US phacoemulsification in terms of corneal tissue trauma and central corneal thickness

Financial Disclosure:

None