Laser-assisted cataract surgery: soft lens assisted interface (SoftFit) versus direct contact interface

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Devices
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) offers precision in ophthalmic procedures.
• Patient interface selection is crucial for optimizing FLACS outcomes and safety.
• The LenSx® femtosecond laser platform (FSL) is a widely used system in FLACS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the novel Laser SoftFit™ patient interface.
• To compare intraoperative results between the Laser SoftFit™ interface and the standard contact interface of the LenSx® FSL platform.
• To assess the impact of the patient interface on specific intraoperative complications and surgical outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A nonrandomized, consecutive case series involving 100 eyes undergoing FLACS.
• Group 1 (50 eyes) utilized the standard LenSx® FSL contact interface.
• Group 2 (50 eyes) employed the Laser SoftFit™ patient interface for FLACS.
• Key outcomes measured included intraoperative corneal folds, capsulotomy completeness and characteristics, phacofragmentation, and incision status.

Main Results:

• The Laser SoftFit™ interface demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in corneal folds (p = 0.0001).
• Improved capsulotomy outcomes were observed with the Laser SoftFit™ interface, including a higher rate of free-floating capsulotomies (p = 0.0001).
• Rates of incomplete capsulotomies were significantly lower with the Laser SoftFit™ interface (p = 0.0001).
• No significant differences were found in incomplete phacofragmentation (p = 0.436) or unopened incisions (p = 0.204) between the groups.

Conclusions:

• The Laser SoftFit™ patient interface is a safe and effective alternative for FLACS.
• This interface significantly reduces the incidence of intraoperative corneal folds.
• Improved capsulotomy quality and outcomes are associated with the use of the Laser SoftFit™ interface during FLACS.