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New laser performs precise capsulotomies, costs less than femtosecond laser
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ATHENS, Greece — A new compact laser has the ability to perform precise, perfectly round capsulotomies at a fraction of the cost of a femtosecond laser, according to one speaker here.
“An additional advantage is that the laser changes the collagen phase, and capsulotomies are highly resistant to tear, highly elastic and extensible,” Pavel Stodulka, MD, said at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons winter meeting.
Pavel Stodulka
The CAPSULaser (Excel-Lens) is an orange laser that selectively interacts with blue-stained tissue.
“You prepare the eye in the usual manner, stain the anterior capsule, place a lens on the cornea, fire the laser and then you take the anterior capsule out of the chamber. The result is a nice, round capsulotomy, made in just 1 second,” Stodulka said.
A feasibility study was performed in 10 eyes of standard cataract patients. At 3 months all eyes were 20/25 or better and 80% were 20/20. No adverse events occurred. All IOLs were perfectly centered at 3 months.
“Outcomes are consistent with those of femtosecond laser-assisted surgery, including the endothelial cell count. In addition, it does not alter the patient flow and fits well in busy, high-volume practices,” Stodulka said.
The laser is compact and mounted under the microscope, and from there the capsulotomy is performed very fast without moving the patient from room to room or from one bed to another.
“This laser is going to target surgeons that cannot afford femto or don’t want to have the hustle of big machinery with high cost and a lot of maintenance involved,” Stodulka said.
The manufacturers are planning to commercialize CAPSULaser this year. – by Michela Cimberle
Disclosure: Stodulka reports he is a consultant to Excel-Lens and Bausch + Lomb.