Short-term effects of femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) on central and peripheral cornea thickness

Abstract

Background: To assess the alterations of the cornea thickness following femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) compared to the manual phacoemulsification. Methods: Data of n=42 FLACS (66.2 years) and n=40 manual phacoemulsification (71.3 years) were analysed. The procedures were performed by LenSx Alcon and Alcon Infiniti Vision System, USA. The laser setting for performing the anterior capsulotomy (diameter 5 mm) was 4.8 μJ and 8.9 μJ for the nucleus. Following parameters were examined; corneal thickness (Pentacam, Oculus Inc., Germany) at intervals of 0.4 mm to the peripheral 8 mm zone, anterior chamber depth, intraocular pressure and number of endothelial cells (NIDEK CoLtd, Japan). The analysis was performed preoperatively, directly post femtosecond laser treatment (within 15 min) and 1 day post-surgery. Results: A significant difference was not observed in the central and peripheral corneal thickness at any location (p>0.05) in FLACS compared to manual Phaco. As a trend, the complete FLACS cohort showed an increase in the peripheral corneal thickness between 4-8 mm at 1 day postoperative. The peripheral cornea thickness was significantly increased in the female FLACS cohort (4-8 mm, p<0.05). Analysing FLACS and manual Phaco considering the AC depth range of 2.5-3.5 mm could not show significant differences between the two cohorts (p>0.05). Conclusions:The results of this study suggest that conventional laser energy levels did not have a harmful short-term impact on the cornea.