Manual or laser for partial thickness incisions in the cornea: Which has the clinical advantage?

No significant clinical differences between incisions made with a femtosecond laser-assisted system and incisions made manually were found in patients who underwent cataract surgery, but fewer minor adverse events with the femtosecond laser system may give it an advantage, according to a new study.

This prospective study included 41 patients with 0.50 D to 1.75 D of corneal astigmatism who wanted less refractive astigmatism after cataract surgery; data at 3 months was available for 38 patients.

Laser arcuate incisions were made with the Verion Image Guided System and manual incisions with a fixed-depth diamond knife. In either group at 1 or 3 months no statistically significant differences were seen in refractive astigmatism, corneal astigmatism, uncorrected distance visual acuity, or manifest refraction.

Between 1 month and 3 months, there were significant changes in refractive and corneal astigmatism.

In the manual group, 2 eyes experienced full-thickness incisions of the cornea that was resolved.

Reference
Blehm C. Clinical outcomes after femtosecond laser-assisted arcuate corneal incisions vs manual incisions. Clin Ophthalmol. 2021;15:2635-2641.