Biomedical Research

Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the influence of combined femtosecond laser and phacoemulsification on postoperative curative effect and safety on cataract patients.

Method: One hundred forty-five cataract patients (148 eyes) needing operation were selected and grouped by difference in operation method: control group, 72 patients (74 eyes) were treated with traditional phacoemulsification; observation group, 73 patients (74 eyes) were treated with femtosecond laser assisted by phacoemulsification. Through detailed ophthalmic examinations of all patients, intraoperative Cumulative Dissipated Energy (CDE) value, pre-operative corneal endothelial cell counting and LogMAR vision examination, as well as intra-operative CDE value and pre-operative corneal endothelial cell counting were used to evaluate safety of combined femtosecond laser and phacoemulsification in treating cataract. Vision difference was used to evaluate the influence of operative treatment on visual functions.

Results: The mean CDE value of grade II nucleus in the observation group was 6.41 ± 3.12, and the mean CDE value of grade III nucleus was 17.48 ± 4.72, which had significant differences from those of the control group (P<0.001). In the observation group, accumulative energy release of grade II nucleus reduced by 28.43% and that of grade III nucleus reduced by 22.61%. Corneal endothelial cell counts of patients in the control group 3 months after the operation were within 2,091.3 ± 492.81 (ea/mm²), which were significantly lower than those (2,317.8 ± 512.77 (ea/mm²)) of the observation group (P<0.05). In the aspect of operation effect, vision examination results at different time points before and after the operation did not have statistical significance (P>0.05), and combined femtosecond laser and phacoemulsification had the same curative effect on the restoration of visual functions of senile cataract as traditional phacoemulsification did.

Conclusion: When curative effects were consistent, combined femtosecond laser and phacoemulsification could reduce intra-operative accumulative energy release, avoid intra-operative additional damage of corneal endothelial cells, and significantly improve safety in comparison with traditional phacoemulsification technique.

Author(s): Lian Duan, Li-Hua Wang
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