This month, a review paper has been published in the European Journal of Ophthalmology authored by specialists at multiple central London teaching hospitals. This paper has systematically looked at the published evidence base to date for laser-assisted cataract surgery. Upon reviewing 121 suitable publications, the authors have concluded that “the current clinical outcomes of femtosecond… Read More
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
This meta-analysis of over 14,000 eyes, published in late 2016, found no significant differences in visual outcome between conventional cataract surgery and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.07.005
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
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
