Efficacy and safety of intacs SK in moderate to severe keratoconus

To examine the safety and efficacy of Intacs SK for moderate to severe keratoconus [KGC] using femtosecond technology. This prospective, non-comparative study included 37 contact lens intolerant keratoconic eyes [stage II-III] of 24 patients who underwent femtosecond-assisted Intacs SK implantation. Inclusion criteria were mean K readings <56.00 D, corneal thickness >400 micro at the incision site, mesopic pupil <6.50 mm. Evaluation included manifest refraction, slitlamp examination, corneal topography, uncorrected distance visual acuity [UDVA] and corrected distance visual acuity [CDVA]. P< 0.05 was statistically significant. Thirty-one [83.8%]eyes were classified as Amsler-Krumeich's stage II and 6 [16.2%] were stage III. Mean central pachymetry was 490.3 +/- 37.4 microm. UDVA at 6 months post-operatively was significantly better than pre-operatively [0.90 log MAR +/- 0.52 standard deviation [SD] versus 0.32 +/- 0.27 logMAR; respectively, P < 0.000l], as was the spherical equivalent [SEq] [-3.64 +/- 2.52 D vs. -1.84 +/- 2.2 D; P< 0.000l]. The mean CDVA and manifest cylinder improved compared with pre-operatively [P = 0.319 and P= 0.078, respectively]. Average keratometry decreased significantly from 48.50 +/- 3.08 D to 44.40 +/- 3.03 D [P< 0.000l]. Implantation of Intacs SK using femtosecond laser in moderate to severe KG is safe and effective

Torsional mode phacoemulsification: effective, safe cataract surgery technique of the future

To compare various outcome measures using torsional mode and longitudinal mode in the phacoemulsification of cataract with different nuclear densities. Magrabi Eye Hospitals, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A randomized comparative clinical study. This study includes 200 eyes of 156 patients [100 in the ultrasound longitudinal [US] group and 100 in the torsional group]. All eyes received AcrySof single piece intraocular lens [Alcon Surgical, Fort Worth, TX]. The primary outcome measures were ultrasound time [UST], cumulative dissipated energy [CDE], and surgical complications. Postoperative outcome measures were the degree of corneal edema on the first postoperative day and final best corrected visual acuity [BCVA] and CCT [central corneal thickness]. The differences in UST and CDE between subgroups of nucleus hardness were statistically significant [P < 0.0l]. The UST and CDE consistently increased in eyes with higher grades of nucleus density. On day one, the mean BCVA was 0.61 +/- 0.13 decimals in the ultrasound [US] group and 0.67 +/- 0.11 decimals in the torsional group [significant P < 0.05]. Corneal edema was significantly less in the torsional group [P < 0.05]. At 30 days, the mean BCVA was 0.94 +/- 0.22 decimals in the US group and 1.0 +/- 0.12 decimals in the torsional group but this difference was not statistically different [P > 0.05]. The torsional mode provides an effective and safe method for cataract removal with lower energy usage as compared to longitudinal traditional phacoemulsification. However, the final visual outcome was similar for both study groups