Posters

Evaluation of the wound-healing changes in clear corneal cataract incision by OCT: ultrasound phacoemulsification vs nanosecond laser

Poster Details

First Author: M.Kharrat TUNISIA

Co Author(s):    E. Bouayed   I. Elleuch   W. Zbiba              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To compare the wound-healing changes in clear corneal cataract incisions (CCI) in cataract surgery using US phacoemulsification or Nanosecond laser technique by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Setting:

Mohamed Tahar Mâamouri Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Nabeul, Tunisia

Methods:

This prospective observational study compared 60 clear corneal incisions that were performed for cataract surgery with 2,2 mm disposable metal knife and had stromal hydration with a balanced salt solution, randomized in two groups: Group 1 had conventional US, and group 2 had nanosecond laser. All wounds were evaluated 1,7 and 30 days postoperatively by OCT. The angle of incision and corneal thickness at the CCI were measured. The architecture was described according to the apposition of the epithelial and endothelial margins, wound sealing and the presence of Descemet membrane detachment.

Results:

In our preliminary results no leakage was detected. The angle varied from 30 to 65 degrees in the two groups. There was no significant difference in: corneal thickness at the clear corneal incision, frequency of epithelial gaping and the endothelial detachment between the 2 groups. But endothelial gaping seemed to be less common in the 2nd group when using a low energy. The frequency of endothelial gaping seemed to increase with the energy used to extract cataract with nanosecond laser to become similar to the US technique.

Conclusions:

Cataract surgery using the nanosecond laser had fewer undesirable effects on the corneal incision site compared to the US specially in endothelial changes.

Financial Disclosure:

None