Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness After Surgery for Age-related Cataracts

Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness After Femtosecond Laser-assisted Cataract Surgery for Age-related Cataracts

To compare the effects of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) and conventional phacoemulsification surgery (CPS) on subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in age-related cataracts.

It is not clear whether femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) alters retinal and choroidal thickness. The goal of the present study was to determine the changes of retinal and choroidal thicknesses in patients who have undergone FLACS compared to patients who have undergone conventional phacoemulsification surgery (CPS).

femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), conventional phacoemulsification surgery (CPS)

A femtosecond laser (Alcon-Lensx, Alcon-Lensx, Inc.) was used in this study. After pupil dilation and topical anesthesia, the laser was docked to the eye using a curved contact lens to applanate the cornea. With the integrated OCT imaging system, the locations of the cornea and the anterior and posterior surfaces of the crystalline lens were determined. A 5.0-mm-diameter capsulotomy was created by scanning a cylindrical pattern and followed by lens fragmentation. The laser was disconnected, and the remainder of the surgery was performed as phacoemulsification (Infiniti® Vision System; Alcon, USA). Folded intraocular lenses (IOLs) were implanted in the capsular bags.

Phacoemulsification was performed through a temporal 3.2-mm clear corneal incision with the same machine and followed by IOLs implantation.

The subfoveal choroidal thickness were measured at baseline and at 1 day, 7 days , 1 month , and 3 months postoperatively by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

baseline, at 1 day after surgery, 7 days after surgery, 1 month after surgery, and 3 months after surgery

The subfoveal retinal thickness were measured at baseline and at 1 day, 7 days , 1 month , and 3 months postoperatively by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

baseline, at 1 day after surgery, 7 days after surgery, 1 month after surgery, and 3 months after surgery

Inclusion Criteria: The cataract stages of the patients were between N2 and N4 according to the LOCS III. Exclusion Criteria: eyes with histories of ocular surgery, trauma, and ocular diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), high myopia, psudoexfoliation, uveitis, retinal vein occlusion, and other inflammatory and vascular retinal disorders.

Chen X, Xiao W, Ye S, Chen W, Liu Y. Efficacy and safety of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery versus conventional phacoemulsification for cataract: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Sci Rep. 2015 Aug 13;5:13123. doi: 10.1038/srep13123.