Safety of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery: assessment of aqueous humour and lens capsule

FLACS different from ultrasound but equally safe

Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) makes a less smooth capsular edge and results in significant though clinically unimportant changes in the concentrations of proteins and electrolytes in the aqueous humour, the results of a prospective randomised trial suggests. In the study, 19 eyes underwent FLACS and 20 eyes underwent conventional phacoemulsification as the control group. Light microscopy at a magnification of 200× and 400× showed that the cutting edge of the anterior capsule was saw-tooth-shaped in the FLACS group, but smooth in the control group. Intact cells were found in the boundary area next to the cutting edge of anterior capsule in both groups. In addition, Mass spectrometry of the aqueous humour detected the proteins, β-Crystallin B1, γ-crystallin S and transferrin in the aqueous humour in the FLACS group. The concentrations Electrolyte of K+ , Na+ and Cl- in the aqueous humour, measured by a chemistry analyzer, differed in the trial group significantly from those in the control group (p = 0.02, 0.03 and 0.04, respectively). However, the changes in the levels of proteins in the FLACS group were too low to have clinical significance or toxicity.