Early Experience in Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery

Abstract

Objectives: To analyze the early experience and intraoperative complications of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract and refractive lens exchange (RLE) surgery. Materials and Methods: The initial 50 eyes of 29 patients who underwent cataract or RLE surgery between March 2013 and May 2013 were included in this study. All patients underwent anterior capsulotomy, lens fragmentation, and corneal incisions with the femtosecond laser (LenSx®, Alcon Inc.). The operation was completed by phacoemulsification and implantation of an intraocular lens. Intraoperative complications were evaluated from patient charts and video reviews retrospectively. Results: The mean age of the patients included was 63.8±11.7 years. No suction break or anterior capsule tear occurred in any case. Small anterior capsular tags occurred in 11 eyes (22%). The capsulotomy buttons were free-floating in 7 eyes (14%), while capsulorrhexis was partially completed with microadhesions in 40 eyes (60%) and uncompleted in 3 eyes (6%). One eye (2%) had a posterior capsule rupture secondary to increase in the intracapsular pressure. Corneal incisions either were not preferred to be used in 8 eyes (16%) or could not be completed in 4 eyes (8%). Miosis occurred in 20 eyes (40%). No vision lost or dropped nuclei were observed. Conclusion: The use of femtosecond lasers in cataract and RLE surgery is safe. There had been no vision lost secondary to complications. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2015; 45: 97-101)

Keywords

• Femtosecond laser
• cataract surgery
• complications