Cataract surgery is the world’s most commonly performed eye operation. Femtosecond laser technology aims to improve the safety and accuracy of the procedure for patients, including those with an advanced cataract or who need a refractive lensectomy.

The key steps of manual phacoemulsification can have an impact on the surgery’s safety. In particular, the quality of the anterior capsulotomy influences the rate of complications and is one of the most difficult steps for trainees and inexperienced surgeons to master.¹ In contrast, when combined with high-resolution anterior segment imaging, laser technology can improve the safety profile of cataract surgery by creating more consistent main and sideport incisions and a more reproducible capsulorrhexis with less chance of an anterior capsular tear. The laser can also fragment or soften the nucleus² and has the ability to precisely place intrastromal corneal incisions to treat astigmatism. These incisions may be left intrastromally or opened in the OR or postoperatively to augment their effect, if needed.

Since the first report of laser cataract surgery in 2009, considerable progress has been made in terms of software development. These advancements, combined with more surgical experience with laser cataract surgery, have led to reduced phacoemulsification time, better wound architecture, greater precision and accuracy of the anterior capsulotomy, and more stable and predictable positioning of the IOL.^3-7

RESULTS OF A GROUP PRACTICE STUDY

Our group at Vision Eye Institute in Sydney, Australia, reported a short learning curve with laser cataract surgery. ^8-10 In a subsequent single-center, consecutive cohort study, we examined the rate of complications in a large prospective series of cases performed by six surgeons who had experience with laser cataract procedures. We analyzed the complication rates and compared them with the initial learning curve.¹¹ All procedures were performed with the LenSx Laser (Alcon Laboratories, Inc.) under topical anesthesia. Patients with corneal opacities or poorly dilating pupils (< 5 mm), advanced glaucoma, hypotony, narrow palpebral fissures, and nystagmus or hemifacial spasm that prevented the docking rings’ placement, were excluded.

In group 1 (the first 200 eyes) 74.5% of eyes underwent a complete laser cataract procedure that included a laser capsulotomy, lens fragmentation, and corneal incisions. Five eyes (2.5%) had suction breaks during the laser procedure, and 21 eyes (10.5%) had anterior capsular tags. The incidence of capsular complications (anterior and posterior tears) was 7.5% (15/200), and the incidence of posterior lens dislocation was 2% (4/200). The mean number of docking attempts was 1.5 per eye.

In group 2 (the next consecutive 1,300 eyes), an anterior capsulotomy, lens segmentation, and main and sideport corneal incisions were successfully completed in 1,280 eyes (98.5%). In addition to routine preoperative dilating drops, all eyes received one drop of 10% phenylephrine immediately after the laser procedure. Eyes are mildly inflamed after the laser cataract surgery, and phenylephrine drops maintain good pupillary dilatation while patients are transferred to the OR. With this technique, only 16 eyes (1.23%) had constricted pupils after the laser procedure. Twenty-five eyes (1.92%) required corneal incisions manually created with a keratome, either due to suction breaks, an air meniscus, or because the incisions made with the laser could not be easily opened. The mean number of docking attempts was 1.05 per eye. We learned that docking is crucial for the case to go smoothly. The increase in IOP is minimal, and the procedural time is short; therefore, it is worthwhile to redock if the original attempt is not ideal.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 indicating great difficulty and 10 indicating a free-floating capsulotomy, the ease with which the anterior capsule was removed was rated at least 8 in 100% of cases. A free-floating capsulotomy or postage stamp configuration (small areas of nonperforation not affecting the complete removal of the capsular button) was present in 96% of cases.

OTHER COMPLICATIONS

The anterior capsulotomy button was incomplete in 52 cases (4%), and in these cases, a manual capsulorrhexis was required to complete the capsulotomy. Anterior capsular tags were seen in 21 eyes (1.62%) after the capsulotomy button was removed. In four eyes (0.31%), capsular tags led to extension and formation of radial anterior capsular tears. These tears extended to the posterior capsule in two eyes, with one eye requiring an anterior vitrectomy. The overall incidence of posterior capsular tears was 0.31% (4/1,300), with two cases occurring during phacoemulsification. Three cases of vitreous loss were successfully managed with a bimanual anterior vitrectomy and the implantation of an IOL in the sulcus. There were no cases of posterior lens dislocation or capsular block syndrome.

Not surprisingly, a significantly lower rate of complications occurred after the first 200 eyes when the surgeons became familiar with the technology. The rate of major capsular complications (anterior and posterior tears) decreased from 7.5% in group 1 to 0.62% in group 2. Surgeon experience, the addition of one drop of 10% phenylephrine immediately after the procedure, and technical improvements made to the LenSx Laser System contributed to an overall decrease in complication rates.

LESSONS LEARNED

During the course of this study, we became proficient at managing the different operative environments by releasing gas and decompressing the capsular bag before commencing phacoemulsification, mobilizing the nuclear segments, and modifying the I/A technique for the removal of the lens cortex. Each surgeon developed a slightly different technique. For example, some performed hydrodissection before releasing intracapsular gas, while others completed this step afterward. In some cases, hydrodissection was eliminated, and the nuclear segments were mobilized by using the laser-generated gas cleavage plane between the nucleus and the cortex (pneumodissection).

There is some evidence that a laser-created capsulotomy may be stronger than a continuous tear capsulorrhexis created manually.⁶ If there is a microtag, it can be stretched and torn during intracapsular manipulation. We recommend inspecting the edge of the laser cut capsulotomy for a capsular tag under high magnification before phacoemulsification. If there is any doubt, assume that the anterior capsule has not been uniformly cut and use forceps to mobilize the capsule. It is tempting to assume that all capsules are free-floating and perfect, and that simply inserting the phaco tip and aspirating the capsule will be sufficient. In most cases, this is true, but occasionally this approach can lead to problems that could have been prevented by a more careful removal of the capsule with forceps.

It is helpful to inspect the gas pattern as well. Sometimes, the gas will escape anteriorly into the anterior chamber, and there will be little or no gas within the nucleus itself. At other times, particularly in hard grade 4 nuclei, gas will become trapped behind the nucleus, and care must be taken to avoid capsular block syndrome, which occurs because of increased pressure within the capsular bag. Any additional pressure within the capsular bag can cause the posterior capsule to blow out. If the surgeon is suspicious of gas trapped behind the nucleus, a few simple maneuvers such as decompressing the anterior chamber prior to gentle hydrodissection with minimal fluid, splitting the hemispheres, or mobilizing the nuclear fragments to allow gas to escape before hydrodissection will prevent capsular block syndrome.

CONCLUSION

These data reflect a group practice’s experience, which tends to better mirror the real world compared with a single surgeon’s best case series. We used the same selection for all 1,500 eyes. Only a few small-pupil cases were excluded. Eyes with intraoperative floppy iris syndrome, pseudoexfoliation, traumatic zonulopathies, white cataract, and mild to moderate corneal opacities were included. Eyes that had undergone previous trabeculectomy or penetrating keratoplasty were also included in the study.

If we consider that the community rate for posterior capsular tear is 2%,12 then we now have a procedure that allows a group of surgeons to perform cataract surgery more safely than the community rate and is comparable to or better than the best single-surgery studies reported in the literature.

Michael A. Lawless, MBBS, FRANZCO, FRACS, is Medical Director of the Vision Eye Institute in Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia. Dr. Lawless may be reached at +61 2 9424 9999; e-mail: michael.lawless@ visioneyeinstitute.com.au.

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