J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2016 Feb;57(2):236-242. 10.3341/jkos.2016.57.2.236.

Comparison of Effective Phacoemulsification Time between Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery and Conventional Cataract Surgery

• Ahn DS
• Han SY
• Lee KH

• KMID: 2213664
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2016.57.2.236

Abstract

PURPOSE
To compare the effect of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with conventional cataract surgery on effective phacoemulsification time (EPT).
METHODS
This study included 66 patients 100 eyes who underwent femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery and 68 patients 100 eyes who underwent conventional cataract surgery. Both groups underwent phacoemulsification using pulsed ultrasound energy and EPT was evaluated. The groups were further analyzed according to preoperative Lens opacities classification system (LOCS) III grading. Patients who had femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery underwent lens fragmentation with quadrant, hybrid, or grid pattern and the EPT was respectively evaluated.
RESULTS
The mean EPT was 5.85 +/- 4.31 seconds in the femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery group and 10.34 +/- 6.61 seconds in the conventional group. Overall, EPT was statistically significantly lower in the femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery group compared to the conventional group. When the groups were analyzed according to LOCS III grading, this result was consistent for all cataract grades and the reduction in EPT was increased with the higher LOCS III grade. When the groups were analyzed according to lens fragmentation patterns, the mean EPT was lower with 350 microm grid pattern than the quadrant or hybrid pattern.
CONCLUSIONS
The femtosecond laser-assisted system in cataract surgery can be an efficient cataract surgery using lower EPT compared to the conventional procedure. Additionally, significant differences were observed in the mean EPT of cataract surgery using the femtosecond laser-assisted system among the 3 lens fragmentation pattern groups.

Keyword

Effective phacoemulsification time; Femtosecond cataract surgery; Fragmentation

MeSH Terms

Cataract*
Classification
Humans
Phacoemulsification*
Ultrasonography

Figure

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  Figure 1. Fragmentation pattern during cataract surgery. (A) Quadrant pattern, (B) hybrid pattern, and (C) grid pattern. LenSx real-time imaging showing planned capsulotomy (pink circle) and lens fragmentation (yellow line). N/A = not avail-able; cyl = cylinder; dgr = degree; CCW = counterclockwise.

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  Figure 2. Effective phacoemulsification time comparison between femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (femtosecond) group and conventional cataract surgery group. Student's t-test was used to examine statistical difference.

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  Figure 3. Effective phacoemulsification time in the femtosecond group and conventional group in regard to the nuclear opacity (LOCS III). Student's t-test was used to examine statistical difference. NO = nuclear opacity by LOCS III classification.

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  Figure 4. Effective Phacoemulsification Time comparison of different lens fragmentation in the femtosecond group. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to examine statistical difference. * Significant difference between groups.

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