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Femtosecond laser reduces cataract surgery exclusion criteria, surgeon says
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 H. Burkhard Dick |
MILAN, Italy — A femtosecond laser system enables a reduction in the exclusion criteria for cataract surgery and a rapid increase in patient volume, according to one surgeon speaking here.
“We acquired the laser in December 2011, and we’ve had at least 100 patients per month asking to be treated with the new procedure. We have treated to date more than 560 cases,” H. Burkhard Dick, MD, OSN Europe Edition Associate Editor, said at the annual joint meeting of OSN and the Italian Society of Ophthalmology.
The Catalys femtosecond laser system (OptiMedica) enables treatment in the case of conditions that are risk factors or even exclusion criteria for conventional phaco, Dr. Dick said. Because the laser performs part of the procedure, conjunctival alterations, opacified corneas, loose zonules, intraoperative floppy iris syndrome, pseudoexfoliation and small, non-dilating pupils no longer preclude surgery.
“Thanks to the liquid optics interface, also small Asian eyes and children’s eyes can be safely and easily treated. In children, I make the laser also do the posterior capsulotomy,” Dr. Dick said.
Patients are prepared to pay for femtosecond laser treatment out of pocket, he said.
“If they have budget limitations and I ask them whether they’d prefer a standard procedure with implantation of a premium lens or a femto procedure with implantation of a standard monofocal lens, they opt for the femto,” Dr. Dick said.
- Disclosure: Dr. Dick is a consultant for OptiMedica.