Randomised Controlled Bilateral Comparison Of Femtosecond Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery Versus Conventional Phacoemulsification Using A Novel Hydrophobic Intraocular Lens

To evaluate the influence of femtosecond-laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) on the post-operative capsular bag and visual performance using a novel aspheric hydrophobic intraocular lens

Kepler University Clinic, Linz, Austria; Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry 

This randomized controlled bilateral study included patients scheduled for cataract surgery. All patients received the same aspheric hydrophobic intraocular lens (LUCIA 621P/PY, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Germany). Randomisation was used to perform group allocation to be either in the FLACS group (Victus, Bausch&Lomb, Germany) or the conventional manual cataract surgery group (conventional group). One, 6 and 12 months after surgery two different swept-source optical coherence tomography measurements (IOL Master 700, CZM and CASIA2, Tomey GmbH, Germany) were performed as well as auto refraction, subjective refraction and best corrected and uncorrected visual acuity.

In total 100 eyes of 50 patients were included in this study. After 12 months there was no relevant difference between the FLACS and the conventional cataract group regarding anterior chamber depth (4.64 ± 0.26 mm and 4.60 ± 0.22 mm; p = 0.434), tilt (4.70 ± 2.12° and 5.00 ± 2.71°; p = 0.598) or decentration (0.53 ± 0.67 mm and 0.48 ± 0.42 mm; p = 0.718), respectively. The postoperative mean spherical equivalent showed a slight hyperopic shift with no relevant difference between both groups (+ 0.17 ± 0.49 D and + 0.19 ± 0.50 D; p = 0.996.) - with an overall visual acuity of -0.08 ± 0.09 logMAR in both groups. The monocular photopic defocus curve showed a range of functional vision (CDVA of 0.2 logMAR or better) from distance to -1 D. 

FLACS was not superior to manual cataract surgery regarding capsular bag or visual performance and the investigated IOL was safe and stable.