Background: The aim of our study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of the LDV Z8 femtosecond laser in cataract surgery compared to the conventional procedure. Methods: This prospective study was performed at the Swiss Eye Research Foundation, Eye Clinic ORASIS, Reinach, Switzerland. The study included 130 eyes from 130 patients: 68 treated with femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) using the FEMTO LDV Z8 and 62 treated with conventional phacoemulsification. Capsulotomy and lens fragmentation in the laser group were performed with the FEMTO LDV Z8 femtosecond laser system, which employs a new, low-energy, high repetition rate laser process for cataract surgery. In the conventional group, the capsulotomy was performed by a cystotome, and lens fragmentation was achieved by the stop-and-chop. Results: Ease of phacoemulsification (on a 4-point scale), the completeness of capsulotomy (on a 10-point scale), effective phacoemulsification time (seconds), uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected distance visual acuity (BSCVA), spherical equivalent (SE), and safety of the procedure were evaluated. The total follow-up time was three months. Conclusions: FLACS with the FEMTO LDV Z8 system was characterized by complete and reproducible capsulotomy and highly effective lens fragmentation. Postoperative visual outcomes were excellent, and the safety of the procedure was optimal.

The power density of femtosecond lasers and exposure time to the tissue are crucial for a successful procedure in terms of safety and precision. The reduction of the pulse duration allows reducing the quantity of the energy to be delivered to the tissue for disruption with strongly diminished mechanical and thermal collateral damage. The cutting effect of ultra-short pulses is very precise, minimally traumatic, safe, and predictable. Future developments will lead to further energy reductions to achieve optical breakdowns. However, the pulse length cannot be shortened arbitrarily because below 100 fs nonlinear effects can change the process in an unfavorable way. Compared to manual-conventional cataract surgery, femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) shows many advantages in clinical application, especially with regard to precision and tissue protection. The femtosecond laser has become particularly important and has made the overall procedure safer when we deal with complex cataract cases such as subluxated lenses. We provide an overview of the evolution of femtosecond laser technology for use in refractive and cataract surgeries. This article describes the advantages of available laser platforms with ultrashort pulses and mainly focuses on the technical and physical backgrounds of ophthalmic surgery technologies.

A prospective feasibility study was conducted to determine whether a new wearable device, the Visual Behavior Monitor (VBM), was easy to use and did not present any difficulties with the daily activities of patients. Patients for cataract surgery and refractive lens exchange were randomly selected and screened for inclusion in the study. A total of 129 patients were included in the study as part of a multicenter study. All measurements were performed before surgery. Upon inclusion, patients were trained to wear the device, instructed to wear it for a minimum of 36 h, and were scheduled to return in one week. The VBM measures the distance at which patients’ visual activities are performed, the level of illumination, and head translational and rotational movements along the three axes. On the follow-up visit, patients completed a questionnaire about their experience in wearing the device. All patients underwent standard diagnostic testing, with their cataract grade determined by the Lens Opacities Classification System (LOCS) classification. Results indicate that 87% of patients felt comfortable using the wearable device while 8% of patients responded as not feeling comfortable (5% of patients did not respond to the question). In addition, 91% of patients found it easy to attach the wearable to the magnetic clip while 4% of patients did not find it easy, and 5% of patients did not respond. Overall, patients found the device easy to use, with most reporting that the device was not intrusive.

Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a proven treatment method for corneal refractive surgery. Surgically induced higher order optical aberrations were a major reason why the method was only rarely used to treat presbyopia, an age-related near-vision loss. In this study, a novel customization algorithm for designing multifocal ablation patterns, thereby minimizing induced optical aberrations, was used to treat 36 presbyopic subjects. Results showed that most candidates went from poor visual acuity to uncorrected 20/20 vision or better for near (78%), intermediate (92%), and for distance (86%) vision, six months after surgery. All subjects were at 20/25 or better for distance and intermediate vision, and a majority (94%) were also better for near vision. Even though further studies are necessary, our results suggest that the employed methodology is a safe, reliable, and predictable refractive surgical treatment for presbyopia.

Background: The aim of the study is to investigate whether the circadian IOP rhythm can be influenced by combined cataract surgery with high frequency deep sclerotomy (HFDS) and whether intraocular pressure (IOP) can be significantly reduced by HFDS. Methods: In our study 10 patients were included, in whom 24 h IOP monitoring was installed before and after HFDS/cataract surgery using a Triggerfish. HFDS is a minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). Results: After performed HFDS combined with cataract surgery, the IOP was reduced from 27.7 ± 2.11 mmHg to 14.4 ± 2.59 mmHg, which is highly significant (p < 0.001). The contact lens sensor (CLS) cosinor analysis pre- and postoperatively showed that the circadian rhythm is not influenced by the surgery, i.e., the circadian IOP rhythm did not show significant differences before and after surgery. Conclusions: HFDS combined with cataract surgery is a potent surgical method that can significantly reduce the IOP. However, the circadian rhythm cannot be changed by the surgery. The acrophase remained during the night in all patients.

Background: Presbyopia treatment in pseudophakic patients with a monofocal IOL is challenging. This study investigates the refractive results of femto-PresbyLASIK and analyzes presbyopia treatment in pseudophakic eyes. Methods: 14 patients with 28 pseudophakic eyes were treated with femto-PresbyLASIK. The dominant eye was targeted at a distance and the non-dominant eye at −0.5 D. The presbyopic algorithm creates a steepness in the cornea center by using an excimer laser that leads to corneal multifocality. Results: 6 months after surgery a refraction of −0.11 ± 0.13 D (p = 0.001), an uncorrected distance visual acuity of 0.05 ± 1.0 logMAR (p < 0.001) and an uncorrected near visual acuity of 0.15 ± 0.89 logMAR (p = 0.001) were achieved in the dominant eye. For the non-dominant eye, the refraction was −0.28 ± 0.22 D (p = 0.002), the uncorrected distance of visual acuity was 0.1 ± 1.49 logMAR, and the uncorrected near visual acuity was 0.11 ± 0.80 logMAR (p < 0.001). Spherical aberrations (Z400) were reduced by 0.21–0.3 µm in 32% of eyes, and by 0.31–0.4 µm in 26% of eyes. Conclusion: By steepening the central cornea while maintaining spherical aberrations within acceptable limits, PresbyLASIK created a corneal multifocality that safely improved near vision in both eyes. Thus, femto-PresbyLASIK can be used to treat presbyopia in pseudophakic eyes without performing intraocular surgery.