First report of femtosecond laser cataract surgery in a nanophthalmic eye

Effect of Conventional Cataract Surgery and Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery on Bruch's Membrane Opening-Minimum Rim Width, Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer, and Macular Thickness

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of conventional cataract surgery (CCS) and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) on Bruch's membrane opening-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL), and macular thickness (MT) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Methods

BMO-MRW, RNFL, and MT were measured using SD-OCT preoperatively, 1 month and 6 months after surgery in both CCS and FLACS groups. Differences between preoperative and postoperative values were evaluated in both groups. The postoperative changes were evaluated in each group and compared between groups.

Results

A total of 146 eyes of 146 patients were included in this study, 65 underwent CCS, and 81 underwent FLACS. One month after surgery, there was an increase (in microns) of 20.93 in BMO-MRW, 4.26 in RNFL, and 7.85 in MT in CCS group (P < 0.001), and 17.7, 3.73, and 5.65, respectively, in FLACS group (P < 0.001). Six months after surgery, there was an increase of 12.53 in BMO-MRW, 1.42 in RNFL, and 4.72 in MT in CCS group (P < 0.001), and 13.7, 1.88, and 4.14, respectively, in FLACS group (P < 0.001). The postoperative changes in CCS group were similar to those in FLACS group.

Conclusion

CCS as well as FLACS result in a slight increase in BMO-MRW, RNFL, and MT values one month and six months after surgery. Neither CCS nor FLACS lead to a deterioration in the parameters that define the structure of the optic nerve head and the macula. These results suggest that FLACS is as safe as CCS regarding the optic nerve head and the macula in normal eyes.

Effect of femtosecond laser-assisted lens surgery on the optic nerve head and the macula

AIM

To evaluate the effect of femtosecond laser-assisted lens surgery (FLALS; cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange) on the structure of the optic nerve head and the macula.

METHODS

This prospective longitudinal study included healthy eyes undergoing FLALS. Eyes with glaucoma or any other ocular disease that could alter optical coherence tomography results were excluded. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), Bruch's membrane opening-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) and macular thickness (MT) were measured preoperatively, 1 and 6mo after surgery using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Changes between preoperative and postoperative values were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 87 eyes of 46 patients were included in this study. Preoperative RNFL, BMO-MRW and MT in microns (µm) were 100.77±10.39, 330.31±49.99 and 276.30±33.39, respectively. Postoperative RNFL, BMO-MRW and MT were 104.74±11.55, 348.32±54.05 and 279.83±22.65 1mo after surgery and 102.93±11.17, 343.11±53.4 and 278.90±22.19 6mo after surgery, respectively; which equals an increase of 3.93%, 5.45% and 1.27%, respectively, 1mo after surgery, and 2.14%, 3.87% and 0.94% 6mo after surgery. The differences between the preoperative and the postoperative RNFL and BMO-MRW values were statistically significant (P<0.001). Regarding MT values, there were not statistically significant differences (P=0.26).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that FLALS does not have a negative impact on the structural status of the optic nerve head in healthy eyes, assessed by SD-OCT. There is a slight increase in the values of RNFL, BMO-MRW and MT 1mo and 6mo after surgery.

Update and clinical utility of the LenSx femtosecond laser in cataract surgery

The introduction of femtosecond lasers to cataract surgery has been the major disruptive technology introduced into ophthalmic surgery in the last decade. Femtosecond laser cataract surgery (FLACS) integrates high-resolution anterior segment imaging with a femtosecond laser allowing key steps of cataract surgery to be performed with computer-guided laser accuracy, precision, and reproducibility. Since the introduction of FLACS, there have been significant advances in laser software and hardware as well as surgeon experience, with over 250 articles published in the peer-reviewed literature. This review examines the published evidence relating to the LenSx platform and discusses surgical techniques, indications, safety, and clinical results.

Femtosecond laser cataract surgery

Femtosecond laser (FSL) cataract surgery is in its infancy but is rapidly gaining popularity due to the improved consistency and predictability for corneal incisions and anterior capsulorhexis. It enables subsequently less phacoemulsification energy and time to be employed, which has gains in terms of reduced corneal oedema. In addition, the FSL allows better circularity of the anterior capsulotomy, capsule overlap, intraocular lens (IOL) placement and centration of the IOL. These advantages have resulted in improved visual and refractive outcomes in the short term. Complication rates are low which reduce with surgeon experience. This review article focuses on the Alcon LenSx system.