These Patients Fared Better with Femtosecond Laser–Assisted Cataract Surgery
Patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy and cataract who underwent femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery were more apt to have thinner central corneal thickness (CCT) and less endothelial cell loss 1 year postop than those who received phacoemulsification, according to a prospective case series involving 31 eyes.
Participants with mild or moderate Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy and cataracts had either femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery or phacoemulsification. Investigators looked at endothelial cell density (ECD), rate of ECD loss, cumulative dissipated energy (CDE), and CCT preoperatively and 3 days and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Among the results:
- CDE was lower in patients receiving femtosecond surgery vs phacoemulsification.
- Pre- and postop ECDs were similar in both groups.
- ECD loss rate was higher in the phacoemulsification contingent from 1 to 12 months postop.
- CCT was thicker at 1, 3, and 6 months postop in patients who underwent phacoemulsification.
- Postop CCT measures at all follow-ups were greater than those taken preop in both groups.
- Bullous keratopathy did not occur in either group, nor did other intraoperative complications.
Fan W, Yan H, Zhang G. Femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery in Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy: Long-term outcomes. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2018;44(7):864-870. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrs.2018.05.007.
