Original Article

Effect of Femtosecond Laser Cataract Surgery on the Macula

Mónika Ecsedy, MD; Kata Miháltz, MD; Illés Kovács, MD, PhD; Ágnes Takács, MD; Tamás Filkorn, MD; Zoltán Z. Nagy, MD, DSc

  • Journal of Refractive Surgery
  • October 2011 - Volume 27 · Issue 10: 717-722
  • DOI: 10.3928/1081597X-20110825-01
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Abstract

PURPOSE:

To compare the effect of conventional and femtosecond laser–assisted (Alcon LenSx Inc) phacoemulsification on the macula using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODS:

Twenty eyes of 20 patients underwent uneventful cataract surgery in both study groups: femtosecond laser–assisted (laser group) and conventional phacoemulsification (control group). Macular thickness and volume were evaluated by OCT preoperatively and 1 week and 1 month postoperatively. Primary outcomes were OCT retinal thickness in 3 macular areas and total macular volume at 1 week and 1 month postoperative. Secondary outcomes were changes in retinal thickness at 1 week and 1 month postoperatively, with respect to preoperative retinal thickness values and effective phacoemulsification time.

RESULTS:

Multivariable modeling of the effect of surgery on postoperative macular thickness showed significantly lower macular thickness in the inner retinal ring in the laser group after adjusting for age and preoperative thickness across the time course (P=.002). In the control group, the inner macular ring was significantly thicker at 1 week (mean: 21.68 μm; 95% confidence limit [CL]: 11.93–31.44 μm, P<.001). After 1 month, this difference decreased to a mean of 17.56 μm (95% CL: −3.21–38.32 μm, P=.09) and became marginally significant.

CONCLUSIONS:

Results of this study suggest that femtosecond laser–assisted cataract extraction does not differ in postoperative macular thickness as compared with standard ultrasound phacoemulsification.

AUTHORS

From Semmelweis University Budapest, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Budapest, Hungary.

Dr Nagy is a consultant to Alcon LenSx Inc. The remaining authors have no financial interest in the materials presented herein.

Correspondence: Mónika Ecsedy, MD, Semmelweis University Budapest, 1085 Budapest, Mária u. 39, Hungary. Tel: 36 30 222 8275; Fax: 36 1 317 9061; E-mail: ecsedy@yahoo.co.uk

doi: 10.3928/1081597X-20110825-01

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