title: Initial evaluation of a femtosecond laser system in cataract surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the early experience and complications during cataract surgery with a noncontact femtosecond laser system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients had anterior capsulotomy or combined anterior capsulotomy and lens fragmentation using a noncontact femtosecond laser system (Lensar) before phacoemulsification. Chart and video reviews were performed retrospectively to determine the intraoperative complication rate. Risk factors associated with the complications were also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred seventy eyes were included. Free-floating capsule buttons were found in 151 eyes (88.8%). No suction break occurred in any case. Radial anterior capsule tears occurred in 9 eyes (5.3%); they did not extend to the equator or posterior capsule. One eye (0.6%) had a posterior capsule tear. No capsular block syndrome developed, and no nuclei were dropped during irrigation/aspiration (I/A). Anterior capsule tags and miosis occurred in 4 eyes (2.4%) and 17 eyes (10.0%), respectively. Different severities of subconjunctival hemorrhages developed in 71 (43.8%) of 162 eyes after the laser procedure. The mean surgical time from the beginning to the end of suction was 6.72 minutes ± 4.57 (SD) (range 2 to 28 minutes).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cataract surgery with the noncontact femtosecond laser system was safe. No eye lost vision because of complications. Caution should be taken during phacoemulsification and I/A to avoid radial anterior capsule tears and posterior capsule tears.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology, Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: John S M
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology, Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Ivan N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology, Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Wai-Man
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology, Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. Electronic address: jackcmng@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jack C M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology, Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Vincent K C
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology, Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Antony K P
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Law
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D057866:Anterior Capsule of the Lens / Q000601:surgery; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology