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Femtosecond cataract surgery may not be ready for ‘prime time,’ surgeon says
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CHICAGO — Cost-effectiveness and clinical concerns may initially deter some surgeons from adopting femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, a speaker said here.
“Most of us … are somewhat perplexed because I think they will be part of our future,” Graham D. Barrett, FRACO, said during Cornea Subspecialty Day preceding the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting. “Quite simply, is this technology ready for prime time?”
Upsides of femtosecond lasers include the potential to design and construct corneal incisions. However, they may not significantly improve incision stability compared with conventional methods, Dr. Barrett said.
Additionally, the reduction in phacoemulsification energy afforded by femtosecond laser lens fragmentation may not be sufficient to warrant the high cost of the technology, Dr. Barrett said.
There is the potential for femtosecond laser-assisted procedures to improve refractive outcomes by virtue of more accurate capsulorrhexis design, he said.
Dr. Barrett also noted that socioeconomic factors, such as a willingness to embrace new technology, may play a role in surgeons and patients accepting femtosecond lasers.
- Disclosure: Dr. Barrett has no relevant financial disclosures.