Combined Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery and Small-Gauge Pars Plana Vitrectomy Using Different Devices: A New Trend for Vitreoretinal Surgery?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To report the efficacy, safety, and benefits of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) combined with sutureless 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study evaluated patient records and videos of 43 cases with retinal pathologies and cataract who underwent the combined procedure.

RESULTS: In 44.2% and 55.8% of cases, respectively, the LenSx Laser (femtosecond machine; Alcon, Fort Worth, TX) and the Constellation (vitreous cutter; Alcon, Fort Worth, TX), and the Victus (femtosecond machine; Bausch + Lomb, Rochester, NY) and Stellaris PC (vitreous cutter; Bausch + Lomb, Rochester, NY) were used. No complications developed during capsulorrhexis, even without a red fundus reflex, retrobulbar block, or scleral indentation. Foldable intraocular lenses remained stable in the capsular bag during the vitreoretinal surgeries and postoperative visits. The mean times of femtosecond phacoemulsification, vitreoretinal surgery, and total surgery were 22.9 minutes ± 4.7 minutes, 43.1 minutes ± 9.8 minutes, and 65.3 minutes ± 8.6 minutes, respectively.

CONCLUSION: This emerging technology is safe and offers several potential benefits for the success of the combined procedure. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2018;49:374-379.].