Laser-assisted cataract surgery has emerged as an alternative to traditional (manual) cataract surgery in recent years, but several studies have failed to provide evidence of major advantages of the technology, while others have demonstrated that laser-assisted cataract surgery may actually increase complication rates.
This recent, large, single-centre study examined visual and refractive outcomes on around 1800 patients undergoing cataract surgery, with around half undergoing Laser-assisted cataract surgery and the other half manual surgery.
The study concluded that there was no significant difference in either the refractive or visual outcomes of surgery between the laser-assisted and manual surgery groups. The study measured post-operative refraction at week 3, which is a little early, and is retrospective in design. However its large size is a strength.
