Anna Schroeter1, Martina Kropp2,3, Zeljka Cvejic4, Gabriele Thumann2,3, Bojan Pajic2,3,4,5,6. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Basel University Hospital, Mittlerestr str. 91, 4056 Basel, Switzerland. 2. Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland. 3. Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland. 4. Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia. 5. Eye Clinic Orasis, Swiss Eye Research Foundation, 5734 Reinach, Switzerland. 6. Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, University of Defence, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Abstract
Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery has the potential to make critical steps of cataract surgery easier and safer, and reduce endothelial cell loss, thus, improving postoperative outcomes. This study compared FLACS with the conventional method in terms of endothelial cells behavior, clinical outcomes, and capsulotomy precision. METHODS: In a single-center, randomized controlled study, 130 patients with cataracta senilis receivedFLACS or conventional cataract surgery. RESULTS: A significant endothelial cell loss was observed postoperatively, compared to the preoperative values in both groups. The endothelial cell counts was significantly better in the FLACS group in cataract grade 2 (p = 0.048) patients, compared to conventionally at 4 weeks. The effective phaco time was notably shorter in grade 2 of the FLACS group (p = 0.007) compared to the conventional. However, no statistically significant differences were found for the whole sample, including all cataract grades, due to the overall cataract density in the FLACS group being significantly higher (2.60 ± 0.58, p < 0.001) as compared to conventional methods (2.23 ± 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: Low energy FLACS provides a better result compared to endothelial cell loss, size, and shape variations, as well as in effective phaco time within certain cataract grade subgroups. A complete comparison between two groups was not possible because of the higher cataract grade in the FLACS. FLACS displayed a positive effect on endothelial cell preservation and was proven to be much more precise.
RCT Entities:
Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery has the potential to make critical steps of cataract surgery easier and safer, and reduce endothelial cell loss, thus, improving postoperative outcomes. This study compared FLACS with the conventional method in terms of endothelial cells behavior, clinical outcomes, and capsulotomy precision. METHODS: In a single-center, randomized controlled study, 130 patients with cataracta senilis received FLACS or conventional cataract surgery. RESULTS: A significant endothelial cell loss was observed postoperatively, compared to the preoperative values in both groups. The endothelial cell counts was significantly better in the FLACS group in cataract grade 2 (p = 0.048) patients, compared to conventionally at 4 weeks. The effective phaco time was notably shorter in grade 2 of the FLACS group (p = 0.007) compared to the conventional. However, no statistically significant differences were found for the whole sample, including all cataract grades, due to the overall cataract density in the FLACS group being significantly higher (2.60 ± 0.58, p < 0.001) as compared to conventional methods (2.23 ± 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: Low energy FLACS provides a better result compared to endothelial cell loss, size, and shape variations, as well as in effective phaco time within certain cataract grade subgroups. A complete comparison between two groups was not possible because of the higher cataract grade in the FLACS. FLACS displayed a positive effect on endothelial cell preservation and was proven to be much more precise.
Authors: Adam M Zysk; Freddy T Nguyen; Amy L Oldenburg; Daniel L Marks; Stephen A Boppart Journal: J Biomed Opt Date: 2007 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 3.170
Authors: Robin G Abell; Nathan M Kerr; Allister R Howie; Mohd A A Mustaffa Kamal; Penelope L Allen; Brendan J Vote Journal: J Cataract Refract Surg Date: 2014-09-10 Impact factor: 3.351