AquaLase in the prevention of PCO: safety and efficiency

Jiraskova N., Kalfertova M., Burova M, Rozsival P.

Department of Ophtalmology, University Hospital Hradec Kralove and Faculty of Medicine Hradec Kralove, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic

Purpose: To evaluate safety and efficiency of the AquaLase in prevention of posterior capsule opacification (PCO).

Methods: The prospective clinical study involving 50 patients (100 eyes) with bilateral cataract having lens removal using torsional phacoemulsification and bimanual irigation/aspiration. Cleaning of the posterior capsule of the right eye was performed using AquaLase. Digital retroilumination photographs of the anterior segment, pachymetry, endotelial cells count (ECC) and best corrected visual acuity were obtained 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery. For evaluation of PCO EPCO 2000 software ( Evaluation of Posterior Capsule Opacification) and OSCA software (Open-Access Systematic Capsule Assessment) were used.

Results: The BCVA was 0.8 and better in all eyes. The ECC and corneal pachymetry results showed that the AquaLase method is safe. EPCO results 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery were as follows: 0,260 ±0,198; 0,259 ±0,173 and 0,308 ±0,19 (right eye), 0,279 ±0,170; 0,280 ±0,153 and 0,333 ±0,197 (left eye). OSCA results 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery: 0,599 ±0,240; 0,605 ±0,333 and 0,598 ± 0,256 (right eye) and 0,627 ±0,403; 0,635 ±0,360 and 0,629 ±0,328 (left eye). Only one patient underwent Nd-YAG capsulotomy on both eyes. Results at 2 years follow-up are are currently under investigation and will be presented.

Conclusion: The AquaLase method is safe for occular tissue. One year after surgery, most cases of PCO were graded as minimal by both systems of analysis. But those results are not the final one and further evaluation is necessary.

Supported in part by research project MZO 00179906.