Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery

Earlier this year, a randomised controlled clinical trial was published from the group at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, directly comparing outcomes of conventional cataract surgery with laser-assisted cataract surgery. With 200 eyes in each trial group, the study found virtually no meaningful differences in outcome for the two groups in terms of level of… Read More

Outcomes of laser-assisted vs manual cataract surgery

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… Read More

Laser-assisted cataract surgery – visual outcomes

In recent years femtosecond lasers have been used in a small number of centers to assist in cataract surgery, with theoretical benefits including more precise creation of corneal incisions and the anterior capsulotomy. However the majority of surgeons have failed to see this translate into any meaningful visual benefit for the patient, and indeed the… Read More

Routine use of non-steroidal drops after cataract surgery

There are two types of eye drop that can be used to control eye inflammation following cataract surgery – steroid drops, and non-steroidal drops (the latter of which are the eye drop equivalent of something like ibuprofen). Of the two classes, steroid drops are more effective (potent) and almost all surgeons routinely prescribe them following… Read More

Laser-assisted cataract surgery: risk of cystoid macular oedema

Despite increasing interest in the possibility of using femtosecond lasers to assist with cataract surgery, most surgeons have not chosen to adopt the technology due to concerns about increased complication rates combined with very few real-world advantages. This study compared the incidence of cystoid macular oedema (abnormal swelling of the retina) in patients who had… Read More

Bilateral multifocal intraocular lens implantation

This recent large randomised controlled trial from Moorfields Eye Hospital examined visual results in patients receiving one of two commercially available diffractive multifocal implants, made by Zeiss and Alcon respectively. Given that the purpose of these special implants is to gain spectacle independence, it is surprising that only 82% and 77% of patients actually achieved… Read More