Comparison of Effective Phacoemulsification and Pulsed Vacuum Time for Femtosecond Laser–Assisted Cataract Surgery
Purpose
To compare effective phacoemulsification and pulsed vacuum time in femtosecond laser-assisted lens fragmentation.
Methods
A prospective, comparative, non randomized study. Population included 72 eyes of 45 patients. Patients were divided in two groups. Both groups underwent femtosecond laser-assisted surgery using LenSx platform (Alcon). 35 eyes (Group 1) complete lens removal with pulsed vacuum (Catapulse; Med-Logics) and 37 eyes (group 2) using pulsed ultrasound energy (Infinity Vision System; Alcon). Nucleus staging was evaluated using Scheimpflug images (Pentacam HR; Oculus). Effective pulsed vacuum, phacoemulsification time and endothelial cell loss were evaluated in both groups.
Results
All patients treated with the softening grid nucleus pattern. Mean preoperative nucleus staging: 1.4 group 1 and 1.57 group 2. Mean pulsed vacuum time, group 1 (6.65 ± 3.7) and mean total torsional ultrasound time for group 2 (7.06 ± 3.6) (p = 0.79). The mean estimated fluid: 112 ± 63 group 1 and 104 ± 35 group 2 (p = 0.41). Corneal endothelial cell density, preoperative (group 1 vs 2: 2812.3 ± 118.5 cell/mm2 vs 2826.5 ± 95.7 cell/mm2, p = 0.78) postoperative (group 1 vs 2: 2766.5 ± 110.5 cell/mm2 vs 2782.2 ± 97.1 cell/mm2, p = 0.81).
Conclusion
The use of pulsed vacuum in combination with the femtosecond lens fragmentation is a secure and safe procedure with no ultrasound energy for cataract extraction.