LASER FLARE PHOTOMETRY IN THE EVALUATION OF POSTOPERATIVE INFLAMMATION FOLLOWING PHACOEMULSIFICATION
Published 2025 - 29th ESCRS Winter Meeting
Reference: FP02.11 | Type: Free Paper | DOI: 10.82333/1w4q-np22
Authors: Konstantinos Arvanitogiannis* 1 , Anna Dastiridou 1 , Eleftherios Meletis 2 , Ioannis Tsinopoulos 3 , Maria Kotoula 1 , Sofia Androudi 1
1Ophthalmology Department,University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly,Larissa,Greece, 2Department of Public Health,University of Thessaly,Karditsa,Greece, 3B Department of Ophthalmology, Papageorgiou Hospital,Aristotle University ,Thessaloniki,Greece
Purpose
The purpose of this study was the assessment of anterior chamber flare, with the use of laser flare photometry, in patients who had undergone uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery for cataract.
Setting
Patients who were diagnosed with cataract and planned for phacoemulsification surgery in the Ophthalmology Department, University Hospital of Larissa. Laser flare photometry procedures were performed using equipment of the Department's Ophthalmology Imaging Unit.
Methods
Thirty patients with cataract were included in this prospective study. Laser flare photometry was performed before phacoemulsification and intraocular lens insertion. The procedures were performed by the same surgeon under the same conditions, following the same surgical method, using the same phacoemulsification machine and materials. For each patient, we recorded the cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) used in phacoemulsification, the ultrasound time, and demographic data. All patients received the same postoperative treatment, including topical dexamethasone 1mg/ml - levofloxacin 5mg/ml (Ducressa®) 1x4 and bromfenac 0.9mg/ml (Yellox®) 1x2 drops for 15 days. At 2 weeks after the procedure, laser flare photometry was performed again by the same examiner.
Results
Twenty women and ten men with a mean age of 73.5 ±8.0 years were recruited. A statistically significant increase in inflammatory response was found at 2 weeks postoperatively (10.89±5.73 ph/ms vs 13.45±7.33 ph/ms, p-value:0.015). There was no correlation between age and laser flare photometry preoperatively (p-value: 0.62) or postoperatively (p-value: 0.2). CDE did not seem to influence the postoperative inflammation (p-value: 0.79).
Conclusion
A significant inflammatory response and increase in flare were found in the eyes of the participants 14 days after cataract surgery. Patient age and CDE did not affect postoperative inflammation measured at 14 days postoperatively. LFP is an accurate, non-invasive tool to assess anterior chamber inflammation.