Prospective randomized controlled trial to compare the effect on the macula of AquaLase liquefaction and ultrasound phacoemulsification cataract surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of ultrasound (US) phacoemulsification and AquaLase liquefaction (Alcon Laboratories) cataract surgery on the macula using optical coherence tomography (OCT).


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, Queen Mary's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.


METHODS
Sixty-three patients having cataract surgery were randomized to receive US phacoemulsification or AquaLase liquefaction cataract surgery. Macular thickness and volume were evaluated by OCT preoperatively and 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively. The primary outcomes were OCT central macular thickness and best corrected visual acuity at 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes were OCT macular volume and perioperative and postoperative complications.


RESULTS
Over the 6-week study, the median increase in foveal thickness in the study eye compared with that in the fellow eye was 11 microm (interquartile range [IQR] -21 to 23 microm) in the AquaLase group and 17 microm (IQR -11 to 33 microm) in the phacoemulsification group (P = .229). A subgroup analysis of diabetic patients found a median increase in foveal thickness in the study eye versus the fellow eye of 2 microm (IQR -14 to 23 microm) in the AquaLase group and 29 microm (IQR 11 to 41 microm) in the phacoemulsification group (P = .07).


CONCLUSIONS
The results in this study suggest that AquaLase liquefaction cataract extraction is as safe as standard US phacoemulsification cataract extraction and may carry less risk for the development of postoperative cystoid macular edema. This may be most evident in diabetic patients.
Barsam
Allon
A
Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom. abarsam@hotmail.com
Chandra
Aman
A
Bunce
Catey
C
Whitefield
Laurence A
LA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology*; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity