Korean J Ophthalmol.  2007 Sep;21(3):137-141. 10.3341/kjo.2007.21.3.137.

A Comparison of the Efficacy of Cataract Surgery Using Aqualase(R) with Phacoemulsification Using MicroFlow(R) System

• Ryu HW
• Park SH
• Joo CK

• KMID: 1099027
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2007.21.3.137

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes after phacoemulsification performed with the AquaLase(R) and phacoemulsification in MicroFlow(R) system, including surgically induced astigmatism (SIA), corneal endothelial cell damage and postoperative recovery of visual acuity. METHODS: The cataracts of Lens Opacities Classification System, version III (LOCS III) nuclear grade below 2 were subjected in this study. Nineteen eyes underwent cataract operation using AquaLase(R) (Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.A.). A control group (19 eyes) used the MicroFlow(R) system (Millenium, Stortz, U.S.A.) and was selected by matching age, sex, systemic disease, corneal astigmatism and corneal endothelial cell density. All the surgeries were performed by the same operator. SIA, corneal endothelial cell loss, visual acuity, and corneal thickness were evaluated postoperatively. RESULTS: SIA in the group using AquaLase(R) was less than that of the group using MicroFlow(R) system (P=0.022) at 2 months postoperatively. Evaluation of corneal endothelial cell loss, recovery of visual acuity and corneal thickness found no statistically significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cataract surgery using AquaLase(R) induces less surgically induced astigmatism in mild to moderate cataracts.

Keyword

AquaLase; Corneal endothelial cell damage; Surgically induced astigmatism

MeSH Terms

Astigmatism/etiology
Cataract Extraction/adverse effects/*methods/*standards
Humans
Phacoemulsification/adverse effects/*standards
Prospective Studies
Treatment Outcome

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Mean surgically induced astigmatism after operation. (*: statistically significant difference)

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  Fig. 2 Endothelial cell loss (A), endothelial cell density (B), coefficient of variation of cell area (C), and percentage of hexagonal cells (D) in the AquaLase® group and control group at 2 months postoperatively. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups.

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  Fig. 3 Uncorrected visual acuity (VA) (A) and distance-corrected visual acuity (b) between AquaLase® group and control group after operation. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups (p>0.05).

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