title: Evaluating the different laser fragmentation patterns used in laser cataract surgeries in terms of effective phacoemulsification time and power.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of the different fragmentation patterns for the lens nucleus in terms of the effective phacoemulsification time (EPT) and power.
  
  
  METHODS
  Shinagawa LASIK Center, Tokyo, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one eyes of 71 patients had preoperative lens opacity grading based on the Emery-Little Classification (Grade 1 and Grade 2). Eyes underwent femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (Catalys™ Precision Laser System), for capsulotomy and lens fragmentation. For the lens fragmentation, either the quadrants softened (Quadrant) or the quadrants complete (Complete) pattern was used. The mean EPT and phacoemulsification (phaco) power for each cutting pattern of Grades 1 and 2 cataracts were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean EPT was 28.96 seconds in the Quadrant Group and 16.31 seconds in the Complete Group (P=0.006). The mean phaco power was 8.07% in the Quadrant Group and 4.77% in the Complete Group (P=0.0002). Comparing the Quadrant and Complete Groups of Grade 1 cataract showed no significant difference in EPT (P=0.16), but showed a significant difference in phaco power (P=0.033). Comparing the Quadrant and Complete patterns of Grade 2 cataract showed significant differences in both EPT (P=0.012) and phaco power (P=0.003). Using the Complete pattern showed a 44.7% reduction in EPT and a 40.9% reduction in phaco power when compared to the Quadrant Group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using the smaller fragmentation pattern in femtosecond laser cataract surgery, the phaco time and power were reduced significantly when compared to the procedure with the larger fragmentation pattern.
authors.affiliation: Shinagawa LASIK Center, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tukezban
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huseynova
authors.affiliation: Tomita Minoru Eye Clinic Ginza, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mita
authors.affiliation: Shinagawa LASIK Center, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Christine Carole C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Corpuz
authors.affiliation: Shinagawa LASIK Center, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sotoyama
authors.affiliation: Tomita Minoru Eye Clinic Ginza, Tokyo, Japan ; Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomita
keywords: complete and quadrant fragmentation pattern; effective phacoemulsification time (EPT)