Eyeworld

EW CATARACT 38 July 2017 FLACS achieved excellent visual outcomes postoperatively at 1 week and 6 months, with best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after cataract surgery a mean of 20/30 and most patients achieving 20/20 visual acuity. Phaco times varied depend- ing on the cataract density, however, more than 30% of his patients had zero phaco time, according to Dr. Garcia-Delpech. The endothelial cell count showed insignificant changes in the study patients following cataract sur- gery with femtosecond laser applica- tion. In all patients, the cell counts demonstrated reductions of under 50 cells, even in patients who had previous endothelial cell damage. Dr. Garcia-Delpech noted that the incidence of surgical compli- cations, such as intraoperative capsular tear, postoperative macu- lar edema, elevated IOP, and graft failure were similar to the incidence seen in the same procedures per- formed without femtosecond laser. "There were no complications in the patients treated, no graft failure after cataract surgery, a reduced postoperative macular edema, and only 0.5% elevated IOP due to the persistence of viscoelastic in the eye, which is known to increase IOP postoperatively. With the femto- second laser, we are just doing the first steps of cataract surgery, the corneal incisions, capsulorhexis, and the fragmentation of the nucleus, then we needed to use ultrasound to continue the surgery. But that is enough to change all the conditions of the surgery, each step becomes more controlled, the global surgery is more predictable, and we can confirm that the results achieved in each patient are similar to the previ- ous one. The state-of-the art cataract surgery has advanced to a new step, a different reality," he said. His data revealed that the cen- tral corneal thickness (CCT) in the study eyes was significantly lower in FLACS at 1 day of follow-up, but comparable at 1 week onward. He explained that CCT was indirectly associated with postoperative in- flammation. The immediate postop- erative outcomes were therefore far superior with the femtosecond laser than in surgeries performed with- out it. Femtosecond laser surgeries reduce the amount of ultrasound energy applied in the eye and conse- quently reduce intra- and postopera- tive inflammation. "The femtosecond laser uses 1040+/–25 nm wavelength, 80 to 160 kHz pulse frequency, and has a real time OCT," Dr. Garcia-Delpech said. "We are using the femtosecond laser in our daily practice routinely. The results are good, and we apply it in every case of cataract surgery. The study was a presentation of our daily results with the femtosecond laser treating cataracts in patients with different pathologies. Based on the femtosecond laser being success- fully used in uncomplicated cataract surgery, we applied this technology successfully in special eyes that had a previous surgery. Penetrating kera- toplasty, intracorneal rings, corneal incisions, and lamellar keratoplasty are indicated for FLACS. Femtosec- ond laser treatment can reduce ener- gy and effective phaco time, which helps to reduce the heat damage to ocular tissues by ultrasound. This novel technique might be beneficial for patients with dense cataract and/ or low preoperative endothelial cell values." EW Editors' note: Dr. Garcia-Delpech has no financial interests related to his comments. Contact information Garcia-Delpech: salvadorgarciadelpech@gmail.com AUGUST 10TH, 2017 BOSTON, MA SHERATON BOSTON HOTEL NOVEMBER 9TH, 2017 NEW ORLEANS, LA HYATT REGENCY NEW ORLEANS OIS.NET SIGN UP TODAY! UPCOMING EVENTS UNITING THE LEADERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF GROUND-BREAKING OPHTHALMIC TECHNOLOGIES. I love OIS, nothing else comes close in presenting the total picture of Ophthalmology with all of it's Business, Financing and Strategy. The Ophthalmology Innovation Summit is for me the highlight of both the ASCRS and AAO Meetings. This meeting is packed with useful information for the ophthalmologist, industry executive and investor that is simply not available in any other venue. I consider OIS to be a cannot miss meeting. Richard Lindstrom, MD Stephen Slade, MD FLACS continued from page 36

• Blank Page
• Blank Page (1)