Femtosecond laser cataract incision morphology and corneal higher-order aberration analysis

J Refract Surg. 2013 Sep;29(9):590-5. doi: 10.3928/1081597X-20130819-01.

Abstract

Purpose: Analysis of the femtosecond laser refractive lens surgery corneal incision configuration and corneal higher-order aberration (HOA) effect from the first postoperative day.

Methods: High-resolution anterior segment optical coherence tomography was used to assess 20 eyes undergoing femtosecond laser refractive lens surgery with 2.2-mm minimal incision. The primary incision (tri-planar) actual length, cord length, surface angle, surface irregularity, and regional pachymetry values and the secondary incision (uni-planar) length, angle, surface irregularity, and pachymetry values were analyzed. Hartmann-Shack aberrometer was used to assess corneal HOAs to correlate the effect. Assessment was done preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively.

Results: The actual length, cord length, and surface angle means for the primary incision in the first postoperative day and month were 1.50 ± 0.1 and 1.47 ± 0.2 mm (P = .5), 1.41 ± 0.1 and 1.42 ± 0.2 mm (P = .8), and 27° ± 4° and 23° ± 5° (P = .07), respectively. The length and surface angle for the secondary incision in the first postoperative day and month were 1.17 ± 0.01 and 1.04 ± 0.1 mm (P = .05) and 52° ± 3° and 42° ± 5° (P = .007). The regional pachymetry values for the primary and secondary incisions were significantly increased in the first postoperative day and then significantly decreased after 1 month. All irregularities occurred in the posterior surface (endothelium): 2 cases of posterior gap (first day) and 1 case of posterior retraction (first month). The HOAs had not significantly changed preoperatively and after 1 month.

Conclusions: The femtosecond laser refractive lens surgery incision is stable and does not significantly change the HOA.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cataract Extraction / methods*
  • Cornea / pathology
  • Cornea / physiopathology
  • Cornea / surgery*
  • Corneal Wavefront Aberration / diagnosis*
  • Corneal Wavefront Aberration / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Keratoplasty, Penetrating / adverse effects
  • Keratoplasty, Penetrating / methods*
  • Lasers, Excimer / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Period
  • Prospective Studies
  • Refraction, Ocular*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods
  • Visual Acuity