Posters

Nanolaser cataract surgery: correlation between post-surgery anterior chamber flare and short-term endothelial cell density

Poster Details

First Author: C.Cagini ITALY

Co Author(s):    G. di Lascio   T. Fiore                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate if post-operative flare correlates with short-term endothelial cell density modification.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology of the Ospedale Santa Maria della Misericordia of Perugia, Italy

Methods:

Ten consecutive patients were enrolled in this prospective, single-masked, clinical interventional study. The inclusion criteria were age between 60-75 years, and nuclear cataract of grade 3 (nuclear opalescence of 3; Lens Opacities Classification System III) requiring cataract surgery. Patients underwent cataract surgery using the Centurion Vision System (Alcon) system replacing the phacoemulsification hand-piece with the Cetus Nanolaser system (A.R.C. Laser). A blinded ophthalmologist performed pre- and post-operative visits. The main outcome measures were flare values measured with a Kowa FM700 (Kowa) before and one day after surgery and corneal endothelial cell density (cells/mm2) measured before and 30 days after surgery.

Results:

All procedures were uneventful and none of the patients were lost to follow-up. The increase in flare values observed the following day was statistically significant (pre-operative: 10.4±5.5 and one day post-operative: 30.3±5.4; p=0.007, two-tailed paired t-test). The decrease in corneal endothelial cell density observed at 30-days was not statistically significant (two-tailed paired t-test). Linear regression analysis of the correlation between these parameters indicated that the slope was not statistically different from horizontal (zero) with a 95% confidence interval for the x-intercept of -infinity to +infinity. Thus, the 30-day modification of endothelial cell density was completely independent of post-operative flare values.

Conclusions:

The lack of correlation between post-operative flare values and short-term endothelial cell density decreases indicated that cell loss was not caused by pot-operative necrosis and inflammation induced by the procedure. The cell lose could be otherwise attributed to cell damage and removal of necrotic material during the procedure. This finding is in accordance with previous studies reporting that although nanolaser assisted cataract surgery required more fluidics, procedures were effectively completed with far less energy emitted within the eye, thus sparing corneal endothelial cells.

Financial Disclosure:

None