gms | German Medical Science

28th International Congress of German Ophthalmic Surgeons (DOC)

11.06. - 13.06.2015, Leipzig

Laser-softening of the lens

Meeting Abstract

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  • Georg Gerten - Augenklinik am Neumarkt, Köln

28. Internationaler Kongress der Deutschen Ophthalmochirurgen. Leipzig, 11.-13.06.2015. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2015. DocH 6b.4

doi: 10.3205/15doc020, urn:nbn:de:0183-15doc0200

Published: June 9, 2015

© 2015 Gerten.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. See license information at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.


Outline

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Purpose: In a clinical study it was evaluated if discrete cuts within the human crystalline lens are possible. The intra-lenticular incision pattern generates sliding planes inside the crystalline lens resulting in a potentially more flexible lens. This treatment represents a potential therapy for presbyopia correction without opening the capsule.

Methods: Five patients with an indication for cataract operation were chosen. One week before the operation laser-cuttings inside the lens of one eye were performed. The used Rowiak femtosecond (fs) laser system emits at a wavelength of 1040 nm. A low pulse energy was chosen to limit collateral effects.The laser incision pattern was placed inside the lens and guided by optical coherence tomography (spectral domain OCT with a wavelength of 840 nm). The eyes were controlled for 7 days, before the actual cataract operation was carried out.

Results: In all treated eyes distinct intra-lenticular cutting patterns were introduced as planned. For all patients the cuts inside the lens cleared up within few hours. Thereby the OCT-guided control of the incision pattern was suitable and reliable. In particular, there were no direct or implicit lesions in the capsular bag. The scheduled cataract operations have been performed without complications.

Conclusion: This treatment is a promising, causal, minimal invasive therapy for presbyopia. The quantitative impact for presbyopia correction has to be investigated in further studies.