title: First experience with the new high-frequency femtosecond laser system (LDV Z8) for cataract surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this work is to report our experience using the new Z8 laser system for femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) and to provide a sample of the performance and safety results using this new technology.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective observational study was performed at the Swiss Eye Research Foundation, Eye Clinic ORASIS, Reinach, Switzerland. Fourteen patients were subjected to unilateral FLACS. Capsulotomy and lens fragmentation were performed with the aid of the LDV Z8 femtosecond laser system. Ease of phacoemulsification (on a 4-point scale), completeness of capsulotomy (on a 10-point scale), time for preparation of femtosecond laser (minutes), effective phacoemulsification time (seconds), total duration of surgery (minutes), and safety of the procedure were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ease of fragmentation and completeness of capsulotomy were estimated at 3.9 and 9.9, respectively. The preparation time for femtosecond was 3.6±0.7 minutes, effective phacoemulsification time was 2.5±3.1 seconds, and total duration of the FLACS procedure was 16.3±4.5 minutes. No major complications were observed. Approximately 42% of all patients (6/14) showed Descemet's folds directly postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FLACS with the LDV Z8 system was characterized by complete capsulotomy and highly effective and reproducible lens fragmentation. The safety of the procedure was very good as perceived by the surgeon operating in this observational case series. The cost to benefit ratio should be further debated by assessing the results of a major prospective study, which is required for valid evaluation of the efficiency and safety of the LDV Z8 laser system and of FLACS in general.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Eye Research Foundation, Eye Clinic ORASIS, Reinach, Switzerland ; Eye Hospital VIDAR-ORASIS Swiss, Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia ; Medical Faculty, Military Medical Academy, University of Defense, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Bojan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pajic
authors.affiliation: Swiss Eye Research Foundation, Eye Clinic ORASIS, Reinach, Switzerland ; Eye Hospital VIDAR-ORASIS Swiss, Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Iraklis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vastardis
authors.affiliation: Swiss Eye Research Foundation, Eye Clinic ORASIS, Reinach, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Zisis
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gatzioufas
authors.affiliation: Swiss Eye Research Foundation, Eye Clinic ORASIS, Reinach, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pajic-Eggspuehler
keywords: cataract surgery; complications; effective phacoemulsification time; femtosecond laser