Femtosecond laser offers potential for additional indications

The laser could have uses across ophthalmic subspecialties The femtosecond laser has expanded its reach beyond refractive surgery to cataract surgery, and could expand still, to cornea, retina, and possibly glaucoma cases, making some complicated subspecialty procedures potentially easier for general ophthalmologists to perform. "Currently, femtosecond lasers are used in making flaps in LASIK and in femtosecond cataract surgery; however, there are several indications that will probably be occurring over the next several years that extend their use in cataract and refractive surgery and go beyond that into other subspecialties as well," said Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, clinical professor of ophthalmology, New York University Medical Center, New York. Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, adjunct professor emeritus, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, said possible future indications for the femtosecond laser include treating presbyopia with radial lensotomy using the femtosecond laser and treating posterior capsule opacity. Another possibility includes the treatment of select vitreous floaters, he said.

Source: https://www.eyeworld.org/