Optical coherence tomography segmentation software showed that femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery significantly reduced postoperative macular edema, according to a study.
“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,” the study authors said. “Our results also support the view that femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery may provide an option for less traumatic cataract extraction, and thus reduced postoperative inflammation and a smaller risk for macular edema.”
The prospective study included 12 eyes of 12 patients with a mean age of 55.17 years who underwent laser-assisted phacoemulsification. A control group comprised 13 eyes of 13 patients with a mean age of 62 years who underwent standard phacoemulsification.
Study results showed significant between-group differences in the absolute outer nuclear layer thickness and relative outer nuclear layer thickness in the inner and outer macular rings.
Mean outer nuclear layer thickness in the peripheral region was 73 µm in the laser surgery group and 80.89 µm in the conventional phacoemulsification group; the between-group difference was statistically significant (P = .04).
The mean ratio of outer nuclear layer thickness to total retinal thickness in the peripheral region was 0.26 in the laser surgery group and 0.28 in the conventional phacoemulsification group. The between-group difference was statistically significant (P = .02).
In the study group, mean Snellen corrected distance visual acuity improved from 0.40 to 1.00 a mean 59 days after surgery. In the comparator group, mean corrected distance visual acuity improved from 0.45 to 0.95 a mean 62.77 days after surgery, the authors said.