Effectiveness and safety of femtosecond laser-assisted lens fragmentation and anterior capsulotomy versus the manual technique in cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of cataract surgery using femtosecond laser-assisted lens fragmentation and anterior capsulotomy versus manual cataract surgery.

SETTING: MaxiVision Eye Hospital, Begumpet, Hyderabad, India.

DESIGN: Randomized controlled open-label multisurgeon prospective trial.

METHODS: Patients (at least 18 years old) were randomized to femtosecond laser-assisted lens prefragmentation and capsulotomy or manual capsulorhexis and standard phacoemulsification. Measured outcomes were effective phacoemulsification time (EPT), surgeon-assessed ease of phacoemulsification, mean phaco energy, mean phaco time, balanced salt solution volume, capsulotomy precision, and adverse event rates.

RESULTS: Fifty-six eyes had the femtosecond laser procedure, and 63 had manual cataract surgery. The mean EPT was significantly lower in the laser group (5.2 seconds ± 5.7 [SD]) than in the manual group (7.7 ± 6.0 seconds) (P=.025). There was a significant difference in the mean phaco energy between the 2 groups (13.8% ± 10.3% in laser group; 20.3% ± 8.1% in manual group) (P<.001). There were no significant between-group differences in the ease of phacoemulsification, mean phaco time, or balanced salt solution volume. Laser-assisted capsulotomies were significantly more accurate and precise (intended diameter, circularity, centration) (P<.01). The safety profiles of the procedures were equivalent, with no adverse events at the 1-day follow-up.

CONCLUSION: The femtosecond laser platform was effective and safe in cataract surgery, reducing EPT and the mean phaco energy during lens fragmentation and providing precise and reproducible capsulotomies.