Femtosecond Laser Capsulotomy and Manual Continuous Curvilinear Capsulorrhexis Parameters and Their Effects on Intraocular Lens Centration
Kinga Kránitz, MD; Agnes Takacs, MD; Kata Miháltz, MD; Illés Kovács, MD, PhD; Michael C. Knorz, MD; Zoltán Z. Nagy, MD, DSC
C reation of a precise anterior capsulorrhexis is one of
the most important steps of cataract surgery. In recent years, the most commonly used technique during
PURPOSE: To measure and compare sizing and position-ing parameters of femtosecond laser capsulotomy with
phacoemulsifi cation is continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis
manual continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis (CCC).
(CCC). Popularized by Gimbel and Neuhann,1-3 CCC has sev-eral surgical and postoperative advantages but its completion
METHODS: Femtosecond capsulotomies (Alcon-LenSx
takes special attention and surgical expertise. Obtaining a pre-
Lasers Inc) and CCC were carried out in 20 eyes of 20
cise capsulorrhexis is essential to reach demanding refractive
patients, respectively. Intraocular lens (IOL) decentra-
results because a properly sized and well-centered capsulor-
tion, circularity, vertical and horizontal diameters of capsulotomies, and capsule overlap were measured
rhexis with a 360° overlapping capsular edge prevents optic
with Adobe Photoshop (Adobe Systems Inc) 1 week, 1
decentration, tilt, myopic shift, posterior and anterior capsular
month, and 1 year after surgery. Between-group differ-
opacifi cation due to symmetric contractile forces of the cap-
ences of parameters and predictors of IOL decentration
sular bag, and shrink wrap effect.4-10 However, an eccentric or
were determined with repeated measures analysis of vari-
irregularly shaped capsulorrhexis with a diameter extending
ance, chi-square test, and logistic regression analyses.
beyond the optic edge may lose these advantages.
RESULTS: Vertical diameter of CCC was statistically
Until now, capsulorrhexis has been a manual procedure.
signifi cantly higher in the fi rst week and month. Signifi -
With the advent of femtosecond lasers in ophthalmic sur-
cantly higher values of capsule overlap over 1 year and
gery, a predictably sized and centered anterior capsulotomy
circularity in the fi rst week showed more regular femto-
became possible through a laser–tissue interaction known as
second capsulotomies. Horizontal IOL decentration was
photodisruption.11 Femtosecond lasers were initially devel-
statistically signifi cantly higher in the CCC group over 1 year. A signifi cant difference was noted between the two
oped for LASIK fl ap creation during corneal refractive sur-
groups in dichotomized horizontal decentration values
gery. Recently introduced laser technology enables surgeons
at 0.4 mm with chi-square test after 1 week and 1 year
to achieve effi cient lens fragmentation or liquefaction and
(P=.035 and P=.016, respectively). In univariable gen-
precise and reproducible creation of capsulotomies and cor-
eral estimating equation models, type of capsulorrhexis
neal incisions during refractive cataract surgery.11-14
(PϽ.01) and capsule overlap (P=.002) were signifi cant predictors of horizontal decentration. Vertical diameter
The purpose of this study was to measure and compare sizing
showed signifi cant correlation to the overlap in the CCC
and positioning parameters of the femtosecond laser capsulotomy
group (1 week: r=Ϫ0.91; 1 month: r=Ϫ0.76, PϽ.01;
with manual CCC during 1-year follow-up. We also studied the
1 year: r=Ϫ0.62, PϽ.01), whereas no signifi cant cor-
effects of these differences on IOL centration. To our knowledge,
relation was noted in the femtosecond group (PϾ.05).
no such comparisons have been performed previously.
CONCLUSIONS: More precise capsulotomy sizing and centering can be achieved with femtosecond laser. Prop-
From Semmelweis University Budapest, Faculty of Medicine, Department of
erly sized, shaped, and centered femtosecond laser cap-
Ophthalmology, Hungary (Kránitz, Takacs, Miháltz, Kovács, Nagy); and Medical
sulotomies resulted in better overlap parameters that help
Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany (Knorz).
maintain proper positioning of the IOL. [J Refract Surg. 2011;27(8):558-563.]
Drs Knorz and Nagy are consultants to Alcon-LenSx Lasers Inc. The remaining authors have no financial interest in the materials presented herein.Correspondence: Kinga Kránitz, MD, Semmelweiss University Budapest, Dept of Ophthalmology, Mária u. 39, 1085 Budapest, Hungary. Tel: 36 20 825 8503; Fax: 36 1 317 9061; E-mail: [email protected]Received: October 14, 2010; Accepted: June 3, 2011Posted online: June 30, 2011
IOL Centration in Femtosecond Laser and Manual Capsulorrhexis/Kránitz et al
chamber and capsular bag by irrigation/aspiration.
Femtosecond capsulotomies were carried out in 20 eyes
No stromal hydration was needed. All incisions were
of 20 patients and manual CCC was performed in 20 eyes
left sutureless. No intra- or postoperative complica-
of 20 patients undergoing cataract surgery with IOL im-
tions occurred. Within the fi rst 10 days, all patients
plantation. Each patient underwent a complete ophthal-
received a combination of antibiotic and steroid eye
mologic evaluation. Patients with previous ocular surgery,
trauma, active ocular disease, poorly dilated pupils, or known zonular weakness were excluded from the study.
The study was conducted in compliance with the
To document capsulotomies, digital retroillumina-
Declaration of Helsinki, as well as with applicable tion photographs were taken 1 week, 1 month, and country and local requirements regarding ethics com-
1 year after surgery. Photographs were imported into
mittee/institutional review boards and other statutes
Adobe Photoshop (Adobe Systems Inc, San Jose, Cali-
or regulations regarding protection of the rights and
fornia) for measuring IOL decentration and the follow-
welfare of human subjects participating in biomedi-
ing capsulotomy parameters: vertical and horizontal
cal research. A written informed consent was obtained
diameter, circularity, and the shortest and longest
distance between the edge of capsulorrhexis and the IOL optic edge (distance min, distance max) along an
elongated radius of capsulorrhexis. The diameter of
The surgical technique was standardized in each
the implanted IOL was used as a scale to eliminate the
patient, except for the method of capsulorrhexis. All
magnifi cation effect of the cornea (Fig 1).
surgeries were performed by the same surgeon (Z.Z.N.).
Intraocular lens decentration was evaluated accord-
After pupillary dilation (1 drop of tropicamide 0.5%
ing to Becker et al.15 The previously described method
every 15 minutes ϫ 3) and instillation of topical anes-
was altered by changing the reference point to the cen-
thetics (proparacaine HCl 0.5%), the femtosecond laser
ter of the pupil, because both the femtosecond cap-
(Alcon-LenSx Lasers Inc, Aliso Viejo, California) was
sulotomies and the manual procedures were aligned
docked to the eye using a curved contact lens to applanate
at the pupil center (Fig 2). To eliminate the effect of
the cornea. The location of the crystalline lens surface
mydriatic drops on changing the position of the pupil
was determined with an integrated optical coherence to-
center, the same amount and type of mydriatic drops
mography imaging system. A 4.5-mm diameter capsulot-
were used to dilate patients’ pupils before surgery and
omy procedure was performed by scanning a cylindrical
pattern starting at least 100 µm below the anterior cap-
Adobe Photoshop gives a vector (determined by its
sule and ending at least 100 µm above the capsule. Pro-
length and angle to the horizontal plane) between the
prietary energy and spot separation parameters, which
pupil center and center of the IOL. The length of the
had been optimized in previous studies, were used for
vector shows the total IOL decentration. Horizontal and
vertical decentration were calculated using trigonome-
Following the laser capsulotomy procedure, a 2.8-mm
try analysis. To determine the magnitude of horizontal
clear corneal incision was created with the laser. The
and vertical decentration without reference to nasal/
cut capsule was removed with capsule forceps under a
temporal or up/down orientation, the absolute values
standard ophthalmic operating microscope. A 4.5-mm
of the above-mentioned parameters were counted.
capsulorrhexis was attempted in the CCC group and
Circularity is a parameter used for determining the
was performed with the aid of a cystotome and capsu-
regularity of capsulotomy shape according to the fol-
lorrhexis forceps. After hydrodissection, phacoemul-
lowing formula: circularity = 4⌸ (area/perimeter2). The
sifi cation of the nucleus and aspiration of the residual
quotient of the shortest and longest distance between
cortex were performed using the Accurus phacoemul-
the edge of the capsulorrhexis and the edge of the IOL
sifi cation machine (Alcon Laboratories Inc, Ft Worth,
optic was calculated to determine capsule–IOL over-
Texas). All IOLs were folded and implanted in the cap-
lap (overlap=distance min/distance max). Circularity
sular bag with the aid of an injection cartridge through
and overlap values of 1.0 indicate a perfect circle and
the corneal wound. All IOLs were three-piece or one-
an absolute regularly overlapping anterior capsule on
piece spherical lenses of hydrophobic acrylic material.
the optic of the implanted IOL, respectively.
The haptics of the IOL were situated in the same posi-
Shifting of the visual axis from the pupil center
tion (at 3 and 9 o’clock). The IOL power was calculated
was determined with a Lenstar biometer (Haag-Streit,
using the SRK/T formula. After IOL implantation, the
Koeniz, Switzerland) in all eyes before and 1 year after
viscoelastic material was removed from the anterior
Journal of Refractive Surgery • Vol. 27, No. 8, 2011
IOL Centration in Femtosecond Laser and Manual Capsulorrhexis/Kránitz et al
Figure 1. Parameters characteristic to the capsulorrhexis measured by
Figure 2. Decentration of the IOL from the pupil center.
Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS
No statistically signifi cant differences were noted
16.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Illinois). Departure from
between the femtosecond (FS) and CCC groups in re-
normal distribution assumption was tested by the
gards to age and gender distribution, refractive status,
Shapiro-Wilks W test. Due to normality of data, de-
scriptive statistics show mean and standard devia-
Table 2 shows mean and standard deviation values of
parameters characteristic to capsulotomies and IOL de-
Differences between the two groups of capsulor-
centrations in the two study groups measured by Adobe
rhexis parameters were analyzed using repeated mea-
Photoshop. Although capsulotomies were not perfectly
sures analysis of variance (ANOVA) test with Newman-
round in the postoperative follow-up period in either
the CCC or FS group, statistically signifi cant differences
To determine predictors of IOL decentration, logis-
were noted between the two groups at the given time
tic regression analyses were performed via univari-
point analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Vertical
able general estimating equation (GEE) models treat-
diameter was signifi cantly higher 1 week and 1 month
ing data from eyes of patients in statistical analysis as
after surgery in the CCC group. Statistically signifi cant
repeated measures. This technique took into account
differences were observed in the shortest and longest
the correlated nature of data from patients who con-
distance between the edge of the IOL optic and the edge
tributed two eyes to the repeated measurements. We
of the capsulorrhexis 1 week and 1 month after surgery
dichotomized decentration parameters at the level
and in circularity 1 week after surgery. Signifi cantly
of 0.4 mm, as previous results showed that Ͻ0.4-mm
higher values of overlap and circularity showed more
decentration provides the best optical performance
regular capsulotomies in the FS group. Horizontal de-
whereas Ͼ0.4 mm can worsen the visual outcome of
centration of the IOL was also signifi cantly higher in the
aspheric and wavefront-corrected IOLs.17
Chi-square test of homogeneity was applied to
The type of capsulorrhexis was found to be a sig-
compare the distribution of dichotomized horizontal
nifi cant predictor of horizontal decentration in the
decentration values at 0.4 mm between the two study
univariable GEE model (odds ratio [OR]: 5.95, 95%
confi dence limit [CL]: 1.58-22.22, PϽ.01). When pre-
Correlations between vertical diameter and overlap
dictors of horizontal IOL decentration were explored,
parameters were analyzed with Spearman rank corre-
only capsulorrhexis overlap showed a signifi cant ef-
fect (P=.002) among all capsulorrhexis parameters.
The signifi cance level was set at PϽ.05 in all statisti-
Decentration was not infl uenced by type of implanted
IOL according to a GEE model (PϾ.05). No statistically
IOL Centration in Femtosecond Laser and Manual Capsulorrhexis/Kránitz et al
signifi cant differences in total decentration or decen-tration in horizontal or vertical direction were noted
between one-piece and three-piece IOLs according to
repeated measurements ANOVA test with Newman-
The ratios of Ͻ0.4 mm and Ͼ0.4 mm horizontal de-
centration values were 4/16, 3/17, and 5/15 eyes in the CCC group 1 week, 1 month, and 1 year after surgery,
respectively. Horizontal decentration did not exceed
0.4 mm in any eye in the FS group (0/20 at all time
points) (Table 3). Chi-square test of homogeneity was
applied to compare the distribution of dichotomized
horizontal decentration values at 0.4 mm between the
two study groups. A statistically signifi cant difference
was found between groups at 1 week and 1 year post-
operatively (P=.035 and .016, respectively). No statisti-
CCC = continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis, MRSE = manifest refraction
cally signifi cant difference was noted between the FS
spherical equivalentNote. Values presented as meanϮstandard deviation (range).
and CCC group 1 month after surgery (PϾ.05).
According to Figures 3-5, vertical diameter demon-
strated a statistically signifi cant correlation to the over-lap in the CCC group at all three time points (1 week:
ued development since the introduction of phacoemul-
r=Ϫ0.91, PϽ.01; 1 month: r=Ϫ0.76, PϽ.01; and 1 year:
sifi cation. However, with the advent of premium IOLs,
r=Ϫ0.62, PϽ.01), whereas no signifi cant correlation
an increasing need appeared for methods that ensure
was noted between the two parameters in the FS group
higher precision and predictability in cataract surgery.
This is the fi rst study to describe the better centration
No statistically signifi cant difference was observed
of IOLs 1 year after cataract surgery when capsulor-
in shifting of the visual axis from the pupil center in
rhexis was performed with a femtosecond laser.
either absolute value or in horizontal or vertical direc-
A properly sized CCC provides several surgical ad-
tion 1 year postoperatively between groups (PϾ.05).
vantages, and initial results with femtosecond laser showed higher precision of capsulorrhexis compared
Cataract surgery techniques have undergone contin-
Corresponding to previous results where we com-
Parameters of Capsulotomies and Intraocular Decentrations in Eyes That Underwent
Continuous Curvilinear Capsulorrhexis or Femtosecond Laser Capsulotomy
CCC = continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis*PϽ.05 between groups at the given time point using repeated measures analysis of variance. Values presented as meanϮstandard deviation.
Journal of Refractive Surgery • Vol. 27, No. 8, 2011
IOL Centration in Femtosecond Laser and Manual Capsulorrhexis/Kránitz et al
FS = femtosecond laser, CCC = continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis*PϽ.05 between groups using Chi-square test.
Figure 3. Correlation of vertical diameter to overlap 1 week after sur-gery. A statistically significant correlation was noted between the two parameters in the manual capsulorrhexis group (r=Ϫ0.91, PϪ.01), but no correlation was found between these parameters in the femtosecond capsulotomy group (r=0.05, PϾ.05).
Figure 4. Correlation of vertical diameter to overlap 1 month after sur-
Figure 5. Correlation of vertical diameter to overlap 1 year after sur-
gery. A statistically significant correlation was noted between the two
gery. A statistically significant correlation was noted between the two
parameters in the manual capsulorrhexis group (r=Ϫ0.76, PϽ.01), but
parameters in the manual capsulorrhexis group (r=Ϫ0.62, PϪ.01),
no correlation was found between these parameters in the femtosecond
but no correlation was found in the femtosecond capsulotomy group
capsulotomy group (r=Ϫ0.11, PϾ.05).
pared circularity of femtosecond capsulotomies and
group. Figures 3-5 demonstrate how higher values of this
manually performed capsulorrhexis at 1 week, we ob-
parameter are able to lead to irregular anterior capsule
served more regular shape in the FS group.18 Differ-
overlap. A 360° overlapping capsular edge is thought to
ence in circularity between the two study groups can
be an important factor for standardizing refractive re-
be explained by disproportion of vertical and horizon-
sults by keeping the IOL in the desired center position.
tal diameter values in the CCC group. Properly sized,
The overlap sets not only the horizontal–vertical but
shaped, and centered femtosecond capsulotomies also the anteroposterior positioning of the IOL.19 resulted in better overlap parameters during the fi rst
In our study, we examined decentration of implanted
year. Worsening irregularity of manual capsulorrhexis
IOLs according to a previous report from Becker et al.15
through asymmetric contractile and vector forces ag-
Decentration Ͼ0.4 mm can deteriorate optical outcomes
gravated the IOL centration over time. In our study, the
of accommodating and multifocal IOLs.17 Our results
length of vertical diameter correlated with the overlap
show statistically higher horizontal decentration in the
of the anterior capsule in the manual capsulorrhexis
CCC group 1 week and 1 year after IOL implantation
IOL Centration in Femtosecond Laser and Manual Capsulorrhexis/Kránitz et al
and a statistically signifi cant difference in the distribu-
3. Gimbel HV, Neuhann T. Continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis.
J Cataract Refract Surg. 1991;17(1):110-111.
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4. Ravalico G, Tognetto D, Palomba M, Busatto P, Baccara F. Cap-
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5. Aykan U, Bilge AH, Karadayi K. The effect of capsulorhexis
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lap” captures all characteristics of the capsulorrhexis
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7. Ram J, Pandey SK, Apple DJ, et al. Effect of in-the-bag intraocu-
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cally signifi cant differences were found between the
ing the capsulorrhexis. Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today
two study groups in preoperative refractive status or
axial length. No differences in magnitude or direction
9. Hayashi K, Hayashi H, Nakao F, Hayashi F. Anterior capsule
of visual axis shifting from the pupil center were found
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The limitation of our study is that we did not evalu-
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ate the anteroposterior position of the IOL. It would
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be interesting and important to examine whether the
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above described effect of regular femtosecond capsu-
12. Ratkay-Traub I, Ferincz IE, Juhasz T, Kurtz RM, Krueger RR.
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lotomies infl uences anteroposterior positioning and
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13. Nordan LT, Slade SG, Baker RN, Suarez C, Juhasz T, Kurtz R.
According to the results of our study, potential clini-
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cal advantages can be achieved during refractive cata-
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Journal of Refractive Surgery • Vol. 27, No. 8, 2011
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