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Femtosecond cataract surgery, conventional phaco demonstrate similar safety profiles
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Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery and standard phacoemulsification proved similarly safe in a large prospective case series.
The study included 4,080 eyes; 1,852 eyes underwent femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery and 2,228 eyes underwent conventional phacoemulsification. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding patient age or cataract grade.
The Catalys Precision Laser System (Abbott Medical Optics) was used in all femtosecond laser procedures.
Anterior capsule tears occurred in 34 femtosecond laser cases (1.84%) and five conventional surgery cases (0.22%); the between-group difference was statistically significant (P < .0001).
Anterior capsulotomy tags were identified in 30 femtosecond laser cases (1.62%) and one conventional case (0.004%); the difference was statistically significant (P < .0001).
Posterior capsule tears occurred in eight femtosecond laser cases (0.43%) and four conventional surgery cases (0.18%); the between-group difference was not significant.
The femtosecond laser group had a higher incidence of significant intraoperative corneal haze and miosis (P < .001). Effective phacoemulsification time was significantly lower in the laser group than in the conventional surgery group (P < .0001).
“Significant intraoperative complications that are likely to affect refractive outcomes and patient satisfaction were low in both groups,” the study authors said.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.
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