title: Optical patient interface in femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery: contact corneal applanation versus liquid immersion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare 2 optical patient interface designs used for femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Optimedica Corp., Santa Clara, California, USA, and Centro Laser, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental and clinical studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laser capsulotomy was performed during cataract surgery with a curved contact lens interface (CCL) or a liquid optical immersion interface (LOI). The presence of corneal folds, incomplete capsulotomy, subconjunctival hemorrhage, and eye movement during laser treatment were analyzed using video and optical coherence tomography. The induced rise of intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured in porcine and cadaver eyes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Corneal folds were identified in 70% of the CCL cohort; 63% of these had areas of incomplete capsulotomies beneath the corneal folds. No corneal folds or incomplete capsulotomies were identified in the LOI cohort. The mean eye movement during capsulotomy creation (1.5 sec) was 50 μm with a CCL and 20 μm with an LOI. The LOI cohort had 36% less subconjunctival hemorrhage than the CCL cohort. During suction, the mean IOP rise was 32.4 mm Hg ± 3.4 (SD) in the CCL group and 17.7 ± 2.1 mm Hg in the LOI group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Curved contact interfaces create corneal folds that can lead to incomplete capsulotomy during laser cataract surgery. A liquid interface eliminated corneal folds, improved globe stability, reduced subconjunctival hemorrhage, and lowered IOP rise.
authors: Talamo Hatch Laser Eye Consultants, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, USA. jtalamo@lasikofboston.com
authors: Jonathan H
authors: JH
authors: Talamo
authors: Philip
authors: P
authors: Gooding
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Angeley
authors: William W
authors: WW
authors: Culbertson
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Schuele
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Andersen
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Marcellino
authors: Emma
authors: E
authors: Essock-Burns
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Batlle
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Feliz
authors: Neil J
authors: NJ
authors: Friedman
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Palanker
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates; D000818:Animals; D019923:Capsulorhexis / Q000379:methods*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000379:methods*; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005130:Eye Hemorrhage; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000601:surgery*; D008903:Minerals; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013396:Suction; D013552:Swine; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; C030660:BSS solution; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008903:Minerals; D012965:Sodium Chloride