TITLE:
Combined Carbon Dioxide Laser Lateral Canthotomy and Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery
AUTHORS:
Randal Tanh Hoang Pham
KEYWORDS:
Cataract; Laser; CO2 Laser; Femtosecond Laser; Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery; Refractive Surgery; Laser Refractive surgery; LASIK; PRK; LASEK; ALK; RLE; EpiLASIK; PRELEX; ICR; Phakic Intraocular Lens Implant; AK; RK; Cataract Surgery San Jose
JOURNAL NAME:
Modern Plastic Surgery,
Vol.3 No.4,
October
18,
2013
ABSTRACT: Purpose: The purpose of this
study was to evaluate a new procedure aimed at lengthening the palpebral
fissure to facilitate femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery in patients
with small eyes. Method: A quick
procedure using the CO2 laser was adapted for patients with small
eyes undergoing laser-assisted cataract surgery using the Catalys system. The
UniPulse CO2 laser (Nidek) was used for laser lateral canthotomy on
patients with small palpebral fissures to allow fitting of the Liquid OpticTM Interface eyepiece. Results: Lateral
canthotomies were performed on 19 women and 7 men (ages ranged from 45 to 93
years) with lower eyelid lengths equal to or shorter than 32 mm who then
underwent femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery. A total of 33 eyelids
received laser lateral canthotomy with the CO2 laser; only one
eyelid had lateral canthotomy with cold-steel tenotomy scissors. Dockings were
completed for all 34 eyes with eyelids receiving lateral canthotomies. The 33
eyes with eyelids that received laser canthotomy with the CO2 laser
had successful femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery. The one eye with
the eyelid that received cold-steel canthotomy could not have femtosecond laser-assisted
cataract surgery despite successful docking because of pupillary constriction. The
findings were statistically significant; Fisher Exact Test showed a p-value of
0.0294. Conclusion: Laser lateral
canthotomy with CO2 laser is a safe and effective method to allow
docking and completion of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery.