CLINICAL AND FUNCTIONAL RESULTS OF CATARACT SURGERY EMPLOYING A COMBINATION OF ND-YAG (1.44ΜM) AND HE-NE (0.63ΜM) LASER RADIATION FOR CRYSTALLINE LENS FRAGMENTATION
Purpose. To investigate and compare the results of clinical application of microinvasive laser cataract extraction (mLCE) based on combined impact of endodissector (Nd-YAG laser 1.44μm) and bio-stimulator (low-power He-Ne laser 0.63μm) with a basic laser cataract extraction technique (LCE) and microinvasive ultrasound phacoemulsification (mPE).Material and methods. Senile cataract extraction with implantation of elastic IOLs into capsular bag was performed in 3 groups of patients: mLCE was performed in 148 eyes, LCE – in 176 eyes and mPE – in 204 eyes.Results. As a whole, surgery and postoperative period coursed with no complications and with minimal reactivity. When compared mLCE with LCE there were reduced energy power, reduced volume of irrigation, less induced astigmatism, better corneal thickness and endothelial cell count loss. When compared mLCE with mPE, the number of eyes with corneal edema was 2 times less, along with reduced transient hypertension and corneal endothelial cell count loss.Conclusion. The developed mLCE technology using two kinds of laser radiations, has several significant clinical advantages providing better safety and efficacy of senile cataract surgical treatment
