RESEARCH ARTICLE


Femtosecond Laser-assisted Lens Surgery with Low-energy Pulse versus Conventional Phacoemulsification for Presbyopia Correction: An Intraindividual Study



Ramiro M. P. C. Salgado1, *, Paulo F. A. A. S. Torres2, António A. P. Marinho3
1 Departamento de Oftalmologia do Hospital da Arrábida. Hospital de Santo António, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
2 Departamento de Oftalmologia do Hospital da Prelada. Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
3 Departamento de Oftalmologia do Hospital da Arrábida. Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal


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© 2021 Salgado et al.

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

* Address correspondence to this author at Departamento de Oftalmologia do Hospital da Arrábida, Praceta Henrique Moreira 150, 4400-346 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal; Tel: 00351915677244; Fax: 00351224003046; E-mail: rsalgadoft2@gmail.com


Abstract

Background:

Lens surgery with multifocal IOL implantation for presbyopia correction is performed by femtosecond laser-assisted lens surgery or conventional phacoemulsification.

Objective:

To compare the clinical results of femtosecond laser-assisted with low-energy pulse conventional phacoemulsification lens surgery for presbyopia correction intraindividually.

Methods:

Charts from patients who underwent Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) for presbyopia correction in a single center, with Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Lens Surgery (FLALS) in one eye and Conventional Phacoemulsification (CP) in the other, were retrospectively reviewed. All eyes had the same multifocal Intraocular Lens (IOL) implanted. The clinical outcomes and the results of the level of satisfaction questionnaire were compared between the two groups according to the technique employed (FLALS vs. CP) for a period of up to four years. Stability, efficacy and safety indices were also assessed.

Results:

This study comprised a total of 56 eyes of 28 patients randomly assigned FLALS in one eye and CP in the other. No statistically significant difference was observed between the two techniques regarding postoperative visual acuities, duration of surgical procedure, efficacy or safety indexes (p>0.05). Refraction was stable in all FLALS eyes, whereas a change occurred in 2 eyes (7.1%) operated with CP upon 6 months postoperatively, but without statistical significance (p˃0.05). Satisfaction was slightly better with FLALS but not statistically significant (p=0.134). No immediate myosis or other adverse events after the femtosecond laser were registered.

Conclusion:

The parameters assessed showed no significant differences between the two techniques, in spite of a difference of refraction stability upon 6 months postoperatively.

Keywords: Femtosecond, Presbyopia, Multifocal IOL, Phacoemulsification, FLACS, Intraindividual, Low-energy pulse.



1. INTRODUCTION

Presently, presbyopia surgical correction is mostly addre- ssed by Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) with multifocal IOLs implantation. The quality of visual performance after a multifocal IOL implantation is largely determined by common aspects such as decreased contrast sensitivity and photic phenomena [1], which are dependent on the IOL design, residual refractive errors, wavefront abnormalities, and IOL tilt and decentration [2]. Femtosecond Laser-assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS) has been implemented since 2009 (Nagy et al.) [3]. This technology relies on the use of ultrashort pulses (in the femtosecond range, i.e., 10−15s), its use being advocated in several steps of modern cataract surgery. Femtosecond laser technology enables a higher accuracy level of centration, circularity and adjustability in capsulotomy, when compared to Conventional Phacoemulsification (CP), besides producing customised multiplanar self-sealing corneal incisions, arcuate keratotomy and lens nucleus fragmentation [4-6]. Regarding capsulotomy, more accurate centration and more precise shaping and sizing of capsulotomy are associated with a reduction in the incidence of IOL movement, tilt, and decentration, consequently improving refractive stability and predictability [7, 8]. Decentered or tilted IOLs have been associated with an increase in Higher-Order Aberrations (HOAs) [9-11]. A considerable amount of literature compa- ring the clinical outcomes of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery versus conventional phacoemulsification has been produced, mostly involving toric and/or monofocal IOLs implantation. Few studies have been published comparing FLACS versus CP accompanied by multifocal IOL implan- tation [12].

Furthermore, the majority of publications do not diffe- rentiate femtosecond lasers on the basis of the pulse pattern, in spite of the physical evidence that devices differ according to the energy level and frequency of the femtosecond pulses, as outlined by Wu et al. [13]. Most devices produce pulses in the order of µJ and KHz, in terms of energy and frequency, respectively. To achieve this type of femtosecond emission, the common mechanism employed by the aforementioned group of devices is Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA), whereas another type of device produces femtosecond pulses of energy and frequency in the order of nJ and MHz, respectively, through another, non-disclosed mechanism.

The goal of this study was to evaluate and compare the outcomes, including efficacy, safety, stability, quality of vision and adverse events rate, of femtosecond laser-assisted lens (clear or cataractous) surgery (FLALS, or FS) employing a low energy (on the order of nJ) and high frequency (in the order of MHz) pulse against Conventional Phacoemulsification (CP) for presbyopia correction with a multifocal IOL implantation.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1. Study Design

A retrospective chart review was performed to identify all patients who randomly underwent presbyopic RLE with panoptix panfocal IOL (Alcon Laboratories, Inc.) implantation in both eyes, with conventional phacoemulsification surgery in one eye and femtosecond laser-assisted surgery in the other, between September 1, 2015, and February 1, 2019, at Hospital da Luz Arrabida (HLA). All surgeries were performed at HLA by two comprehensive cataract and refractive attending physicians using the Centurion Vision (Alcon Laboratories, Inc.) phacoemulsification system and the LDV Z8 femtosecond laser platform (Ziemer, Inc.).

2.2. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Preoperative corneal astigmatism less than 0.75D, measu- red with a Placido - dual Scheimpflug tomographer (Ziemer Ophthalmic systems AG), was required as an inclusion criteria for the study. Patients were excluded from the study if they had previous ocular surgery other than cataract surgery or RLE, corneal astigmatism more than 0.75D, ocular pathology, corneal abnormalities, and an endothelial cell count less than 2000 cells/mm2.

2.3. Chart Review and Data Collection

A total of 28 patients (56 eyes) were identified in the chart retrospective review, following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The collection was made of demographic and clinical data such as age, sex, date, lens opacity assessment, type of surgery (conventional versus femtosecond laser-assisted), procedure duration, preoperative and postoperative visual acuities and refractive errors, the stability of refraction, adverse events and quality of vision. All charts were reviewed for the preoperative assessment, at the day of surgery, the day after surgery and the postoperative visits scheduled at 1, 3, 6, 12 months and every year thereafter. Biometry, performed using optical interferometer Galilei G6 (Ziemer Ophthalmic systems AG) and every subsidiary examination (such as OCT, corneal topography, specular microscopy, etc.) were conducted by a technician, unaware of the type of surgical technique employed. Visual acuities, uncorrected and corrected, at a distance (UDVA and DCVA) of 6 m, intermediate (UIVA and DCIVA) at 60 cm and near (UNVA and DCNVA) at 40 cm were assessed, under the same photopic conditions (85 candelas/m2), with Snellen chart (for distance) and reading Jaeger chart (for near and for intermediate, with conversion to Snellen notation); ultimately, for analyses purposes, a conversion was also performed to LogMAR notation. Parti- cipants’ manifested refractions were collected (sphere, cylinder and spherical equivalent), with objective refractive errors assessed by an autorefractor (Topcon Co. Ltd.). Stability of refraction was defined as a manifested refraction change of ≤0.5D between last visit and 1st month visit, giving attention to the expected full recovering from the inflammatory state during the immediate postoperative period, i. e., up to 1 month after surgery. Safety index was defined as the ratio postoperative CDVA/preoperative CDVA (mean value), and efficacy index as the ratio postoperative UCVA/preoperative CDVA (mean value). Accuracy of spherical equivalent (SE) to the intended target (presented as the percentage of eyes within ±0.13 D, ±0.50 D, ±1.00 and ±1.25 D) was also measured.

Patient reported outcomes were assessed at the 6 months’ visit, using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire regarding the level of overall satisfaction (graded from 1 - very dissatisfied; 2 - dissatisfied; 3 - neither satisfied nor dissatisfied; 4 - satisfied; 5 - very satisfied) [14], whereas the quality of vision was determined by a 4-point likert scale questionnaire comprising the existence of visual disturbance or photic phenomena, graded from 0 (none) to 4 (very high).

Lens transparency was assessed by slit-lamp examination and assigned a grade according to the Lens Opacities Classification System (LOCS) III. Corneal topography and tomography were determined using a Placido - dual Schei- mpflug device (Galilei G6). Macular spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was performed with a modular ophthalmic imaging platform (Carl Zeiss).

The femtosecond laser-assisted lens surgery was performed using a femtosecond laser (LDV Z8, Ziemer, Inc.). Two surgeons (R.S., A.M.) had received training and full accre- ditation on the device in anticipation of this trial and had performed at least 20 laser applications each before the study began. The femtosecond laser was used to perform capsulo- tomy, lens fragmentation and corneal incisions, and a phacoemulsification machine was used for further emulsifi- cation, irrigation and aspiration of lens material. Due to the portability of the femtosecond device employed (LDV Z8), the surgery was fully performed in sequence (femtosecond laser followed by the phacoemulsification) in the same operating theater, with the patient on the same operating bed. Phacoemu- lsification was performed using the Active Fluidics™ torsional phacoemulsification machine (Centurion Vision, Alcon Labo- ratories, Inc.). All operations were unilateral (one eye at a time) and performed under sedation. Both surgeons followed the same surgical protocol.

Preparation of patients was the same for both groups, i.e. tropicamide 0.28 mg in association with phenylephrine hydrochloride 5.4 mg contained in an ophthalmic insert (Mydriasert), placed in the lower conjunctival sac and oxybuprocaine hydrochloride 4 mg/l eyedrops before the procedure, with no specific medication for mydriasis prevention required in the femtosecond group. Injection of intracameral cefuroxime (Aprokam) was performed in every patient at the end of each surgery.

All patients were administered prednisolone (Frisolona Forte), ibuprofen (Edolfene) and ofloxacin (Floxedol) eyedrops for 3 weeks postoperatively.

2.4. Intraocular Lens

The Acrysof IQ TNFT00 Panoptix panfocal (Alcon Laboratories, Inc.) is a diffractive aspheric hydrophobic acrylic IOL with a blue light-filtering multifocal design. It is a modified L-haptic lens (0-degree angle), with a 13.0 mm overall diameter, a 6.0 mm optic, and a refractive index of 1.55 at a wavelength of 550 nm. The optical zone of the IOL is composed of a diffractive structure in the central 4.5 mm portion consisting of 15 diffractive zones and an outer refractive annulus. The quadrifocal design was modified so as to provide trifocal functionality for the patient at far (6 m), 60 cm (+2.17 D), and 40 cm (+3.25 D) distance [15]. The Enlighten Optical Technology employed claims an optimization of light distribution as follows: 50% for far distance with 25% each for near focus and intermediate focus, with 88.0% light transmittance to the retina (for a simulated 3.0 mm pupil) [16, 17].

2.5. Statistical Analysis

Snellen and Jaeger visual acuities were converted to logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) for analysis. Comparisons were based on Student t-test, or non-parametric Mann-Whitney test when the equality of variances was not observed. The efficacy, in terms of UDVA, UIVA and UNVA at 4 weeks and last visit was designated as the primary outcome, with safety, stability, intraoperative and postoperative complications, refraction and patient-reported quality of vision selected as secondary outcomes. The sample size was determined for a significance level of α = 0.05 and a power of 90%, considering different standardized effects ranging from 0.9 to 1.25; the resulting sample size ranged from 15 to 27 subjects in each group.

3. RESULTS

3.1. Preoperative Patient Data

The mean age of the 20 women (76.5%) and 8 men (23.5%) was 58.75 ± 5.941 years (range 47 to 73 years). Cataract removal was performed in 4 eyes (7.1%), whilst clear lens extraction was performed in 52 eyes (92.9%). Mean follow-up was 27.59 ± 10.146 months (ranging from 8 to 48 months). The mean IOL power was +24.38 ± 3.651 D (ranging from 13.5.0 to 33 D).

All 28 patients had both eyes operated, with a total of 56 eyes operated. Femtosecond laser-assisted surgery was performed in 28 eyes (50%), whereas conventional phacoemulsification was performed in 28 eyes (50%).

Table 1 shows the patients’ preoperative characteristics by technique group. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups preoperatively. Regarding CDVA, each group had 26 eyes (92.8%) with 20/30 or better (Snellen notation), whereas 2 eyes (7.2%) in each group had CDVA worse than 20/30 (p>0.50). The cases were distributed evenly between the 2 surgeons and between the 2 treatment techniques (p = 0.987) (Table 2).

Table 1. Patient demographic and clinical characteristics.
Parameter Monocular
Mean value ± SD P value
FS CP
UDVA (logMAR) 0.36 ± 0.302 0.36 ± 0.294 0.986
CDVA (logMAR) 0.03±0.080 0.04±0.077 0.865
Spherical Equivalent (D) 1.35±2.140 1.75±2.333 0.505
Total corneal astigmatism (D) 0.540±0.227 0.654±0.128 0.188
Nuclear sclerosis† 0.18±0.669 0.14±0.525 0.825
Average keratometry (D) 43.98±1.430 44.02±1.595 0.915
Axial length (mm) 21.87±1.600 21.75±1.644 0.776
Anterior chamber depth (mm) 3.17±0.218 3.19±0.255 0.831
White-to-white (mm) 11.77±0.293 11.77±0.289 0.999
Table 2. Case distribution between the 2 surgeons and between the 2 treatment techniques (p = 0.987).*
Parameter Surgeon 1 Surgeon 2 Total
Conventional 15 13 28
Phacoemulsification
Surgery
Femtosecond 15 13 28
Laser-assisted
Surgery
Total 30 26 56

3.2. Refraction and Visual Acuity

Femtosecond laser treatment was delivered successfully in all cases in the FS group, with no adverse events registered (including the presence of myosis or significant bubbles); similarly, conventional phacoemulsification was performed without any adverse events.

Mean postop UDVA was 0.01 ± 0.0661 logMAR (range -0.1 to 0.18) for all operated eyes (both techniques), while mean postop CDVA was -0.01 ± 0.0412 logMAR (range -0.1 to 0). The mean duration of surgical procedures was 14.80 ± 2.733 min for the femtosecond laser-assisted surgery (FLALS or FS) and 14.69 ± 2.121 min for Conventional Phacoemulsification (CP) (p>0.05).

As shown in Table 3, mean postop visual acuity data did not differ significantly between techniques (p values >0.05) at 6 months postoperatively. Cumulative snellen visual acuity is shown in Fig. (1), comparing uncorrected and corrected postoperative values for far, intermediate and near for the two techniques. Twenty-six eyes (92.8%) in the FS group and 25 eyes (89.3%) in the CP group had a monocular UDVA of 20/25 or better; all eyes in both groups had a minimum UDVA of 20/32 at 6 months postoperatively. Twenty-seven eyes (96.4%), both in FS and CP groups, had a CDVA of at least 20/20, and all eyes in both groups had a CDVA of 20/25 (Fig. 1A).

CDVA = corrected distance visual acuity (6 m); D = diopters; DCIVA = distance-corrected intermediate visual acuity (at 60 cm); DCNVA = distance-corrected near visual acuity (40 cm); LogMAR = logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution; UDVA = uncorrected distance visual acuity (6 m); UIVA = uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (at 60 cm); UNVA = uncorrected near visual acuity (40 cm)

Regarding postop UIVA, the CP group presented with 20/20 in 85.7% of the eyes against 78.6% in the FS group (p=0.494), with closer results for DCIVA of 20/20 (78.6% vs 75%, respectively for CP and FS) (p=0.955) (Fig. 1B). Concerning UNVA and DCNVA, mean values did not differ significantly (p=0.803 and p=0.968, respectively); for DCNVA, 92.8% in the FS group and 85.7% in the CP group achieved 20/25 or better (Fig. 1C). Considering safety in the context of the best measured visual acuity, histograms for far, intermediate and near are shown in Fig. (2), with similar results for both techniques.

Table 3. Postoperative visual and refractive outcomes.
Parameter Monocular
Mean value±SD P value
FS CP
UDVA (LogMAR) 0.01±0.068 0.02±0.065 0.337
CDVA (LogMAR) -0.01±0.044 -0.01±0.038 0.522
UIVA (LogMAR) 0.02±0.042 0.01±0.036 0.494
DCIVA (LogMAR) 0.03±0.044 0.02±0.049 0.955
UNVA (LogMAR) 0.04±0.054 0.04±0.059 0.851
DCNVA (LogMAR) 0.05±0.060 0.04±0.070 0.968
Spherical Equivalent (D) 0.009±0.259 -0.054±0.574 0.575
Fig. (1). (A, B and C) Cumulative postoperative monocular visual acuity at last visit (28 eyes in each group) (CDVA = corrected distance visual acuity (6 m); CP = conventional phacoemulsification group; DCIVA = distance-corrected intermediate visual acuity (at 60 cm); DCNVA = distance-corrected near visual acuity (40 cm); FS = femtosecond group; UDVA = uncorrected distance visual acuity (6 m); UIVA = uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (at 60 cm); UNVA = uncorrected near visual acuity (40 cm).

The assessment of efficacy and safety outcomes from an essentially refractive point of view (comparing preop CDVA vs. postop UDVA and CDVA, respectively) is also shown in the histograms in Fig. (3). The efficacy index was high for both techniques, with 1.08 ± 0.149 for the FS group and 1.05 ± 0.244 for the CP group (p=0.893). With regard to the safety index, the FS group of eyes achieved a value of 1.13 ± 0.244, whereas the CP group had a similar value of 1.12 ± 0.236 (p=0.888). Regarding efficacy and safety indexes, there was no clinical difference between the techniques (p>0.5).

Fig. (2). (A, B and C) Difference between postoperative uncorrected and corrected monocular visual acuity at last visit (28 eyes in each group) (CDVA = corrected distance visual acuity (6 m); CP = conventional phacoemulsification group; DCIVA = distance-corrected intermediate visual acuity (60 cm); DCNVA = distance-corrected near visual acuity (40 cm); FS = femtosecond group; UDVA = uncorrected distance visual acuity (6 m); UIVA = uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (at 60 cm); UNVA = uncorrected near visual acuity (40 cm).

The accuracy of both techniques, regarding postoperative spherical equivalent, is shown in Fig. (4A). In the FS group, 96.4% of the eyes fell in ±0.50 D range, compared to 84% of the eyes in the CP group. Four eyes (14.2%) in the CP presented with a negative postoperative spherical equivalent in the range of -0.51 to -1.25D. Postoperative refractive cylinder assessment showed no differences between the two groups (Fig. 4B). Evaluation of the achieved versus attempted spherical equivalent refraction was conducted (Fig. 4C and D), with regression analysis showing the determination coefficients for both groups; the value of R2 was similar for the FS group (R2 = 0.9859) and CP group (R2 = 0.9687), thus not validating lower predictability of the CP procedure as compared to FS technique for this study population.

Stability of refraction was defined as a change of manifest refraction inferior to 0.5D between the 1st month visit and the last visit. Refraction was stable in all FS eyes, whereas a change occurred in 2 of the 28 eyes (7.1%) operated with CP between 1st month and 6th month visits (Fig. 5). There was a myopic change of 0.50D towards “plano” (0.0D) refraction.

Fig. (3). (A) Cumulative monocular postop UDVA vs. preop CDVA at last visit (28 eyes in each group). (B) Difference between postop monocular CDVA and preop CDVA at last visit (28 eyes in each group) (CDVA = corrected distance visual acuity; FS = femtosecond group; CP = conventional phacoemulsification group; UDVA = uncorrected distance visual acuity).

Fig. (4). (A) Accuracy of postoperative refractive spherical equivalent (n=28 eyes in each group). (B) Postoperative Refractive Cylinder (D). (C and D) Achieved versus Attempted Spherical Equivalent Refraction (CP = conventional phacoemulsification group; D = diopters; FS = femtosecond group).

Fig. (5). Stability of spherical equivalent refraction (CP = conventional phacoemulsification group; D = diopters; FS = femtosecond group).

Table 4. Postoperative visual and refractive outcomes.
Parameter Monocular
FS CP p value
QoV 1.14±0.650 1.29±0.713 0.103
Satisfaction Index 4.54±0.508 4.34±0.488 0.134

No statistically significant difference between the two techniques was obtained regarding refraction assessment, in spite of a difference between techniques regarding the accuracy of spherical equivalent (SE), with 96.4% of eyes in the FS group presenting postoperative manifest refraction in the ±0.50D range, as compared to 84% of the CP group eyes. At 6 months’ timepoint, we found no significant difference in the postoperative visual acuity or postoperative spherical equivalent between the two groups.

Quality of vision and satisfaction, assessed at 6 months’ visit, were slightly better with FLALS, but still not statistically significant (p=0.103 and p=0.134, respectively) (Table 4).

4. DISCUSSION

To this point, no other study involving presbyopia correction has assessed the visual outcomes intra-individually with this follow-up line of time (4 years). In the current study, we chose to evaluate patients’ charts at 4 weeks and beyond when the majority of postoperative oedema and inflammation had settled. At the 6 months’ timepoint, we found no difference in the postoperative visual acuity between the two groups, with no changes thereafter in subsequent visits. The stability of refraction for both techniques was high, notwithstanding the registered changes in the CP group and pointing to some earlier stabilization of refraction in the FS group, thereby being in agreement with other studies [18, 19].

The high values of efficacy and safety indexes in both groups enlighten the good performance of the PanOptix IOL in what concerns to distance visual acuity, being in line with previously reported results [20, 21]. On the basis of techniques’ comparison, a small, clinically non-significant superiority of FS over CP has been reported in terms of efficacy, safety and accuracy, as also stated in some studies [22], but further investigation and discussion are required as our study sample was relatively small.

Globally, our results tend to agree with most of the published studies pointing to the similarity of clinical outcomes between femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery treatment and CP [23-25]. Reported gains in visual acuity after femtosecond laser-assisted surgery, in most studies [26], tend to be early (1 week postoperatively) or late (at 6 months), but not between the 1- to 3-month timepoints [27]. The rationale for this might be that femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, in the early postoperative phase, is associated with reduced ultrasound energy and reduced corneal edema resulting in faster visual rehabilitation, followed by equivalence in the interim, and possibly, with late differences after 6 months, as some studies also suggest [28-30]. In our study, refraction was stable in all FS eyes, whereas a change occurred in 2 of the 28 eyes (7.1%) operated with CP between 1st month and 6th month visits, but without statistical significance (p˃0.05).

It should be stressed, however, that the vast majority of the published evidence does not include nor differentiate the results obtained with each femtosecond delivery machine (namely both types of femtosecond pulse), neither at the visual outcomes nor at the adverse events level. In our study, no adverse events, including myosis after femtosecond delivery, were registered; regarding myosis, our results are in accordance with other studies involving the same type of femtosecond pulse [31]. We did not find the commonly reported reflective pupil constriction associated with other types (high-energy and low-frequency) of femtosecond pulse as it is delivered by most FS machines available in the market. A possible explanation for this difference may be that the “low-energy” concept (employing a high numerical aperture in the femtosecond laser optics) produces smaller laser spots, which is liable to reduce collateral damage to the neighbouring tissues. This, in turn, could result in lower amounts of prostaglandins with consequent negligible (if any) intraoperative pupil narrowing. Furthermore, the time expended in patient transfer, required for most “high-energy” pulse platforms, may account for the loss of previously pharmacological induced mydriasis. Similarly, in our study, no anterior or posterior capsule-related events were registered, such as incomplete capsulotomy, anterior capsular tags and anterior or posterior capsular tears, contrary to reports of several reviews [32, 33], which do not contemplate and/or differentiate between the two types of femtosecond pulse.

Regarding total procedure time (from first to final surgical step), we found no clinically significant difference between FLALS and CP (p>0.05) in our study, with no expended extra time, mostly due to the fact that the employed femtosecond device is portable and it was used in the operating room, with the patient positioned in the surgical bed throughout the sequential femto-phaco procedure. These findings of none or little impact on total surgical time with portable femtosecond device are in agreement with few other studies [34]. Although some studies show a marginal gain in productivity with FLACS [35], the great majority of previous literature indicates a negative impact on productivity by incorporating a femtosecond laser; this evidence can largely be attributed to transfer time between the laser and the surgical bed or between laser and operating room, since, for these studies, only non-portable femtosecond devices have been included [36-38].

CONCLUSION

The vast majority of the studies exclude femtosecond lasers of low-energy and high-frequency pulse in lens surgery. To our knowledge, until this date, this is the only intraindividual study evaluating low-energy and high-frequency femtosecond pulse in lens surgery for presbyopia correction, and also for a 1 to 4 years of follow-up period. Most of the several studies showed little overall differences in visual and refractive outcomes between femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery and CP, along with productivity concerns (time expenditure) generally associated with the use of femtosecond laser in lens surgery, which have been observed to be comparatively worse in conventional phacoemulsification. In the present study, total procedure time was similar between the techniques, and no adverse events were registered, including post-femtosecond delivery myosis. Altogether, there was no significant difference registered between the techniques regarding clinical outcomes. Stability, although not statistically significant, was slightly better with FLACS. The present study is limited with respect to the number of participants. As such, a larger sample size is recommended to confirm and investigate these findings further.

ETHICS APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE

This retrospective cohort study was approved by the Ethics Committee at Hospital da Luz Arrabida (HLA), Porto, Portugal.

HUMAN AND ANIMAL RIGHTS

No animals were used in this research. All human research procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the committee responsible for human experimentation (institutional and national), and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2013.

CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION

Informed consent was obtained from the participants to ensure the confidentiality and anonymity of the study.

AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIALS

Not applicable.

FUNDING

None.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Pedro Oliveira, PhD, University of Porto, provided assistance with statistics.

Ramiro Salgado, Antonio Marinho and Paulo Torres planned the study. Ramiro Salgado and Antonio Marinho conducted the study. Ramiro Salgado submitted the study and is responsible for the overall content as guarantor.

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