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Femtosecond laser pretreatment reduces effective phacoemulsification time
Femtosecond laser pretreatment significantly reduced effective phacoemulsification time in eyes undergoing cataract surgery, according to a study.
The prospective study included 150 eyes that underwent femtosecond laser pretreatment and 51 eyes that underwent conventional phacoemulsification. Laser pretreatment was performed with the Catalys femtosecond laser system (OptiMedica).
Effective phacoemulsification time was 2.33 seconds in the study group and 14.24 seconds in the control group; it was reduced significantly in the study group compared with the control group (P < .0001). Effective phacoemulsification time was zero in 45 eyes in the study group (30%) and no eyes in the control group (P < .0001).
Data showed a strong relationship between cataract grade and effective phacoemulsification time (P < .0001).
Endothelial cell loss was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (P = .022).
Both groups had similar visual and refractive outcomes. No intraoperative complications occurred in either group, the authors said.