Femtosecond Laser Results in Better Wound Sealability Than Manual Clear Corneal Incisions

A research team composed of scientists from the Philippines, United Kingdom, and the United States found that – compared to manual clear corneal incisions (CCI) – femtosecond laser-constructed incisions achieve better wound sealability, a quality that may reduce the risk of surgical complications.

The study was conducted at the Peregrine Eye and Laser Institute in the Philippines. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups – manual CCI and femtosecond laser-assisted CCI. Wound sealability was measured based on the stability of the anterior chamber with a Seidal test.

Compared to the manual CCI group, incisions created with the femtosecond laser had significantly better wound sealability. More than two-thirds of eyes in the manual group (24 of 31 eyes, or 77.45%) required reformation of the anterior chamber and hydration of the wound compared to less than a quarter of the eyes in the femtosecond laser group (7 of 31 eyes, or 22.6%). In addition, only 9.7% of eyes in the manual group (3 of 31 eyes) maintained a formed anterior chamber compared to over half of the eyes in the femtosecond group (18 of 31, or 58.1%).

The researchers attributed the improved outcomes of the femtosecond laser to “more consistent, reproducible, and predictable wound geometry.”