Efficacy of LCS compared with manual techniques
Cost remains a large disadvantage to femtosecond laser cataract surgery
Femtosecond laser technology
The advancement in Femtosecond lasers has been remarkable, though debate continues about whether to become involved with the technology based on clinical efficacy and safety. The Catalys laser (Optimedica, Sunnyvale, California, USA) that our practice acquired in April 2012 has since had multiple upgrades - in particular improving power efficiency and accuracy. The most recent upgrade has reduced anterior capsulotomy time to less than 2 seconds, provided corneal incisions and dramatically reduced lens fragmentation times as well as enhancing the treatment zone. These improvements highlight that this technology has not yet reached maturity.
Another safety feature of the platform is the liquid optics interface, which causes only a small and transient rise in IOP.1 This is important for our elderly cataract patients who have significant co-morbidities such as glaucoma.