Abstract
Purpose: :
To examine the rate of cataract extraction complications in a training institution using phacoemulsification technique between Alcon®-Infiniti technology and Bausch & Lomb®-Millennium technology.
Methods: :
We performed a preliminary retrospective chart review of 112 patients who underwent cataract extraction with phacoemulsification technique at the West Haven Veterans Affairs Hospital. Fifty six patients underwent phacoemulsification with cataract extraction using the Millennium (group one) and 56 patients underwent the same procedure using the Infiniti (group two). Intra-operative complications such as posterior capsular tear and dropped nucleus along with postoperative complications such as cystoid macular edema (CME), retinal detachment (RD), endophthalmitis and high intraocular pressure (IOP) were analyzed for each groups using Z-value with 95% confidence interval. In addition, postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was compared between the two groups.
Results: :
The average age of patients was 76.8 in group one and 76.2 in group two. There were 98.2% males in group one and 94.6% males in group two. The rate of posterior capsular tear was 13 (23%) group one vs. 6 (10%) group two with z-value of 1.76. The rate of dropped nucleus was 2 (3.58%) group one vs. 3 (5.38%) group two (z-value = 0.458). The rate of CME was 3 (5.38%) group one vs. 4 (7.14%) group two (z-value= 0.391). High IOP was noted in 4 individuals (7.14%) in group one vs. one individual (1.78%) in group two (z-value=1.37). Neither RD nor endophthalmitis were seen in either groups. The type of intraocular lenses used were as followed: ACIOL: group 1: 2 (3.58%); group 2: 2(3.58%); Sulcus: group 1: 11 (19.6%); group 2: 4(7.14%); PCIOL: group 1: 43 (76.8%); group 2: 50 (89.3%). There was no significant Z-value between the two groups. The final best corrected VA was better or equal to 20/25 in 66.06% of group one and 67.86% of group two.
Conclusions: :
Torsional ultrasound (Infiniti) is a new phacoemulsification technology that produces a side-to-side motion of the phaco tip as opposed to the forward-and-backward motion (Millennium). Vacuum and flow rates characteristics of the two technologies are also different. In this retrospective study, we assessed rate of phacoemulsification complications between the two technologies. Although we found a trend toward lesser complication of posterior capsular tear in torsional ultrasound technology, there was no significant difference between intraoperative and postoperative complication rates between the two technologies.
Keywords: cataract • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications • anterior segment