Evaluating the different laser fragmentation patterns used in laser cataract surgeries in terms of effective phacoemulsification time and power

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of the different fragmentation patterns for the lens nucleus in terms of the effective phacoemulsification time (EPT) and power. SETTING: Shinagawa LASIK Center, Tokyo, Japan. DESIGN: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.