Comparison of clinical and functional results of conventional and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract phacoemulsification

Abstract

To perform a comparative analysis of ultrasound and hydrodynamic parameters, and the outcomes of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) and conventional phacoemulsification cataract surgery (CPCS). This prospective cohort study included 246 eyes. The first group consisted of 138 patients who underwent FLACS, second group - 108 patients after CPCS. Total ultrasound time was 95.36±47.93 and 113.3±97.71 seconds (p=0.04) in the 1st and the 2nd groups, respectively. The duration of torsional ultrasound was 84.72±50.03 seconds in 1st group (p=0.04) and 113.3±97.71 seconds in the 2nd group (p=0.04). Aspiration time was 208.3±95.86 seconds in the 1st group (p=0.04) and 258.43±158.81 seconds in the 2nd group (p=0.04). On the 3-4th day after the surgery, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) were significantly better in the 1st group - 0.62±0.21 (LogMAR 0.20±0.19) and 0.53±0.15 (LogMAR 0.30±0.21) (p=0.01), respectively, compared to the 2nd group with UDVA of 0.75±0.18 (LogMAR 0.10±0.16) and CDVA of 0.69±0.19 (LogMAR 0.20±0.15) (p=0.04). Central corneal thickness (CCT) was 573.41±33.12 and 632.43±58.30 μm in the 1st and 2nd groups, respectively (p=0.020). At 1 month post-op there were no statistically significant differences in UDVA (p=0.17), CDVA (p=0.40) or CCT (p=0.50) between the groups. Compared with CPCS, total ultrasound time (p=0.04), torsional ultrasound time (p=0.04) and aspiration time (p=0.04) were significantly lower in the FLACS group. CCT was significantly lower (p=0.02), while UDVA (p=0.04) and CDVA (p=0.01) were significantly higher in the FLACS group in the early post-operative period (3-4 days after surgery). There were no statistically significant differences in the parameters between the groups 1 month after the surgery.