Nanolaser in cataract surgery and its impact on corneal endotelium.

PURPOSE: To compare safety and efficacy of new nanolaser photofragmentation technique with standard ultrasound phacoemulsification cataract surgery technique. Metods: A group of 20 patients - 40 eyes who underwent bilateral cataract surgery, one eye with ultrasound phacoemulsification (group I), n = 20 fellow eye with nanosecond laser framentation (group II ). Lens Opacities Classification System III was used to classify cataract stage. All 40 eyes had stage III cataract, Nucleus Opalescence was NO2 - NO3. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), endothelial cells density (DEC), hexagonal cells rate, index of endothelial cells pleomorfism, and corneal thickness were evaluated prior to surgery and at day 7 follow up. RESULTS: All 40 eyes had uneventful surgery,without complications. Preoperative UCVA in group I was 0,70±0,07 and 0,68 ± 0,10 in group II. At follow up check 7 days after surgery UCVA was 0,98 ± 0,05 in group 1 and 0,98 ± 0,04 in group II (p-NS). The mean DEC (cells/mm2) before surgery was 2508 ± 205,54 in group 1 and 2472 ± 287,85 in group II. After surgery density decreased to 2024,92±271,50 in group 1 and 2138,5 ± 390,85 in group II. Difference in endothelial cells decrease between groups showed no statistical significance. There was no statistical significance in differences of hexagonal cells rate and corneal thickness between both groups pre and postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Nanolaser lens photofragmentation and ultrasound phacoemulsification can be considered equal regarding impact on endothelial cells.