Determinants of Visual Outcomes in Femtosecond Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery and Phacoemulsification: A Nested Case Control Study

PURPOSE: We present the visual outcomes 6 weeks following Femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) and conventional phacoemulsification cataract extraction (CE) cataract surgeries in 2013. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a review of health record type of study. Eyes operated by FLACS and an equal number of conventional phacoemulsification (CE) on the same day by same surgeon were included in the study. Demographics, preoperative status, operative details and the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 6–8 weeks following surgery were noted. BCVA of >20/60 was considered as excellent. The rate and determinants of excellent vision were calculated. RESULT: Study population comprised of 154 eyes. Both FLACS and CL groups had 77 eyes. Visual acuity at 6–8 weeks was excellent in 44 (60%) eyes of FLACS group and 36 (40%) eyes of CE. Visual outcome following FLACS and conventional surgery was not different (Odd's ratio [OR] 1.5 [95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.8–2.9]). Operating surgeon did not significantly influence the visual outcomes following FLACS (OR = 1.6) and CE (OR = 0.4). Association of the grade of lens opacities to the visual outcome was not affected by type of surgery (χ(2) = 0.5, P = 0.2). The duration of surgery in CE and FLACS groups was not significantly different (−3.2 min [95% CI: −13; 6.6]). CONCLUSION: Visual outcomes at 6–8 weeks following CE were not different from FLACS. Visual outcomes following FLACS and CE were not influenced by the operating surgeon or severity of the cataract. The time required for FLACS was greater than that required for CE.