Cataract surgery closer to femtosecond laser assistance

Eyeworld

At least three different companies are developing a femtosecond laser to be used for cataract surgery. During refractive surgery subspecialty day, physicians presented different models of femtosecond lasers being developed by three different companies for refractive cataract surgery. Zoltan Nagy, M.D., deputy director, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary, updated a presentation he gave earlier this year at the ASCRS annual meeting on a laser system being developed by LenSx Lasers (Aliso Viejo, Calif.). In 200 eyes, the laser successfully liquefied the lens nucleus and created reproducible sized, shaped, and centered capsulotomy. Jonathan H. Talamo, M.D., Waltham, Mass., expanded on the benefits a femtosecond laser brings to cataract surgery when introducing a laser by Optimedica Pascal System (Santa Clara, Calif.). In addition to easing nucleus aspiration and improving capsulotomies, the lasers increase a physician’s control over the capsulorrhexis, astigmatism, and cataract incisions. A third laser is being developed by LensAR Laser System (Winter Park, Fla.), said Louis D. “Skip” Nichamin, M.D., Brookline, Pa. Having been used on 59 eyes in Mexico, Dr. Nichamin reported similar results to what Dr. Nagy reported; chiefly “a more accurate and more repeatable capsular opening with a more regular shape compared to manual capsulorrhexis. The laser-cut capsule is easy to remove at the beginning of cataract surgery.”