Purpose: To evaluate femtosecond laser lens fragmentation and anterior capsulotomy in cataract surgery. Methods: Anterior capsulotomy and phacofragmentation procedures performed with an intraocular femtosecond laser (LenSx Lasers Inc) were initially evaluated in ex vivo porcine eyes. These procedures were then performed in an initial series of nine patients undergoing cataract surgery. In addition to standard intraoperative assessments (including capsulotomy diameter accuracy and reproducibility), optical coherence tomography was used to evaluate human procedures. Results: For an intended 5-mm capsulorrhexis in porcine eyes, average achieved diameters were 5.88±0.73 mm using a standard manual technique and 5.02±0.04 mm using the femtosecond laser. Scanning electron microscopy revealed equally smooth cut edges of the capsulotomy with the femtosecond laser and manual technique. Compared to control porcine eyes, femtosecond laser phacofragmentation resulted in a 43% reduction in phacoemulsification power and a 51% decrease in phacoemulsification time. In a small series of human clinical procedures, femtosecond laser capsulotomies and phacofragmentation demonstrated similarly high levels of accuracy and effectiveness, with no operative complications. Conclusions: Initial results with an intraocular femtosecond laser demonstrate higher precision of capsulorrhexis and reduced phacoemulsification power in porcine and human eyes. [ J Refract Surg . 2009;25:1053–1060.]

PURPOSE: To evaluate a laser technique and manual technique to perform capsulorrhexis in cataract eyes. METHODS: Anterior capsulotomy was performed with an intraocular femtosecond laser (LenSx Lasers Inc) in 54 eyes (FS group) and manual continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis was performed in 57 eyes (CCC group). Circularity and area of capsulotomy and IOL decentration were measured using Photoshop CS4 Extended (Adobe Systems Inc) 1 week after surgery. Average keratometry, axial length, and preoperative anterior chamber depth were examined with the Lenstar LS 900 (Haag-Streit AG). RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were noted between groups in axial length, preoperative refractive state, and in the area of capsulotomy. Circularity values were significantly better in the FS group ( P =.032). We found incomplete overlap of capsulotomies in 28% of eyes in the CCC group and 11% in the FS group ( P =.033). Significant correlations were noted between axial length and area of capsulotomy, and between average keratometry and area of the capsulotomy in the CCC group (R=0.278, P =.036; and R=−0.29, P =.033, respectively), but both did not correlate in the FS group ( P >.05). In the CCC group, the pupillary area correlated significantly with the area of the capsulotomy (R=0.27, P =.039). Significant correlation was noted between IOL decentration and axial length in the CCC group (R=0.30, P =.026), but there was no correlation in the FS group ( P >.05). CONCLUSIONS: Femtosecond laser capsulorrhexis was more regularly shaped, showed better centration, and showed a better intraocular lens/capsule overlap than manual capsulorrhexis.

To analyze complications of femtosecond lasers used for cataract surgery. Department of Ophthalmology Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. Retrospective analysis. Intraoperative complications of the first 100 femtosecond laser-assisted (Alcon-Lensx, Inc.) cataract surgeries were collected. Possible complications of femtosecond capsulotomies and their management were also assessed. The complications were as follows: suction break (2%), conjunctival redness or hemorrhage (34%), capsule tags and bridges (20%), anterior tear (4%), miosis (32%), and endothelial damage due to cut within the endothelial layer (3%). There were no cases of capsule blockage or posterior capsule tear. During the learning curve, there was no complication that would require vitrectomy. All complications occurred during the first 100 cases. Femtosecond laser cataract surgery had a learning curve during the first 100 cases. With cautious surgical technique, the complications can be avoided. The femtosecond laser-assisted method was efficient and safe for cataract surgery.

To evaluate and compare thickness changes in the retinal layers in the macula with optical coherence tomography (OCT) segmentation software after femtosecond laser-assisted phacoemulsification (study group) and conventional phacoemulsification (control group). Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. Case-control study. Total retinal thickness of the macula was evaluated using Stratus OCT 4 to 8 weeks postoperatively. The OCT images were segmented using OCT retinal image analysis software. Regional thickness data in the central area, inner rings, and outer rings were obtained and absolute and relative thicknesses of the individual retinal layers in the 2 study groups compared. Relative thickness was calculated as the ratio of the retinal layer to the total retinal thickness. All surgeries were uneventful. Statistically significant differences were found in absolute outer nuclear layer thickness and relative outer nuclear layer thickness in the inner and outer macular rings between the 2 groups. After adjusting for effective phaco time in multivariate modeling, type of surgery showed a significantly lower relative outer nuclear layer ratio in the inner retinal ring (0.26 with 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25-0.27 versus 0.28 with 95% CI, 0.27-0.29; P=.03) and in the outer retinal ring (0.27 with 95% CI, 0.25-0.28 versus 0.29 with 95% CI, 0.28-0.31; P=.02) in the study group. After cataract surgery, macular edema was detectable mainly in the outer nuclear layer in both groups but was significantly less using the femtosecond laser platform.

Femtosecond lasers represent a new frontier in cataract surgery. Since their ­introduction and first human treatment in 2008, a lot of new developments have been achieved. In this review article, the physical principle of femtolasers is discussed, together with the indications and side effects of the method in cataract surgery. The most important clinical results are also presented regarding capsulotomy, fragmentation of the crystalline lens, corneal wound creation, and refractive results. Safety issues such as endothelial and macular changes are also discussed. The most important advantage of femtolaser cataract technology at present is that all the important surgical steps of cataract surgery can be planned and customized, delivering unparalleled accuracy, repeatability, and consistency in surgical results. The advantages of premium lenses can be maximally used in visual and presbyopia restoration as well. The advantages of ­premium lenses can be maximally used, not only in visual, but in presbyopia restoration as well. Quality of vision can be improved with less posterior chamber lens (PCL) tilt, more centralized position of the PCL, possibly less endothelial damage, less macular edema, and less posterior capsule opacification (PCO) formation. This technological achievement should be followed by other technical developments in the lens industry. Hopefully this review article will help us to understand the technology and the results to ­demonstrate the differences between the use of femtolasers and phacoemulsification-based cataract surgery. The most important data of the literature are summarized to show ophthalmologists the benefits of the technology in order to provide the best refractive results to the patient.

Femtosecond laser (FSL) cataract surgery is in its infancy but is rapidly gaining popularity due to the improved consistency and predictability for corneal incisions and anterior capsulorhexis. It enables subsequently less phacoemulsification energy and time to be employed, which has gains in terms of reduced corneal oedema. In addition, the FSL allows better circularity of the anterior capsulotomy, capsule overlap, intraocular lens (IOL) placement and centration of the IOL. These advantages have resulted in improved visual and refractive outcomes in the short term. Complication rates are low which reduce with surgeon experience. This review article focuses on the Alcon LenSx system.