Oxidative Stress, Prostaglandins, Cytokines, and Cataract Surgery
How Incorporating a Low-Energy Laser Can Be Beneficial
BY JODHBIR S.MEHTA, BS c (HONS), MBBS, PhD, FRCO phth , FRCS(Ed), FAMS
Laser cataract surgery has been a viable alternative to conventional cataract surgery for more than a decade now. Inflammation management remains important independent of the surgery type: Not only does it influence corneal edema and central macular thickness, but today’s patients have high expectations for their visual recovery and for reduced pain postoperatively, so that they may return to their everyday activities as soon as possible after cataract surgery. With a handful of femtosecond laser
platforms and one nanosecond platform available today to assist in a multitude of steps in cataract surgery, it is important for surgeons and their practices to consider the benefits of each platform and to contemplate how incorporating one of them could help to produce superior surgical outcomes for their patients.
I have conducted a number of studies proving the benefits of a low-energy laser (Femto LDV Z8, Ziemer) in corneal surgery 1 and in cataract surgery. 2 With new clinical data on the Femto LDV Z8 emerging, more benefits of this low-energy laser in cataract surgery have been coming to light in the recent years and months. For instance, it has previously been shown that, in a case-controlled study, 1-day postoperative corrected distance visual acuity was significantly better after laser cataract surgery with the Femto LDV Z8 than it was after conventional phacoemulsification. 3 The indication here,
then, is that a low-energy laser platform like the Femto LDV could offer advantages in early visual rehabilitation. It has also been hypothesized that a low-energy laser could potentially decrease the extent of prostaglandin surge compared to higher-energy lasers (Figure 1) and, in return, reduce oxidative stress (for more information on prostaglandins, oxidative stress, and other inflammation indicators, see the Table).
I recently conducted a trial to compare the oxidative stress, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and cytokine levels after conventional and laser-assisted phacoemulsification with the Femto LDV Z8. 4 A cohort of patients were also given a topical NSAID preoperatively in the eye that received femtosec-
ond treatment. In short, what we found was that, compared with conventional cataract surgery with phacoemulsification, the Femto LDV Z8 induced a significantly higher PGE2 level and no significant difference in malondialdehyde (MDA) and aqueous flare levels.
However, capsulotomy creation with the Femto LDV Z8 causes the lowest level of PGE2 release compared with high-energy systems. Further, we found that the addition of a topical NSAID preoperatively reduced PGE2 surge and, finally, that the amount of oxidative stress induced during phacoemulsification—both conventional and laser—strongly correlated with effective phacoemulsification time (EPT) and was independent of the surgery type.
RESULTS
Aqueous PGE2 and MDA levels. We found that the PGE2 level in the laser group was significantly higher (175.6 ±125.3 pg/mL) than it was in the conventional group (68.8 ±47.6 pg/mL) and that, in the laser group, PGE2 levels were significantly reduced among the eyes that received topical NSAID preoperatively (63.4 ±35.9 pg/mL). Again, this is much lower than compared with higher-energy laser systems. There was an increase in PGE2 levels in all groups immediately postoperatively (Figure 2), indicating that the preoperative NSAID only suppressed the rise in PGE2 after laser treatments at the beginning of surgery, but it had no effect at the end of the surgical procedure. Regarding MDA levels, the use of a topical NSAID did not suppress the increase of MDA caused by the laser pretreatment.
Cytokines, chemokines, and growth factor. The concentrations of IL-1RA were significantly higher in the laser group than in the conventional phacoemulsification group. Yet, when the preoperative NSAID was delivered in the laser group, there was a significantly lower concentration
of a number of inflammatory mediators. This is beneficial, as inhibiting cytokines, chemokines, and growth factor has the potential to limit the amount of pseudophakic cystoid macular edema. Capsulotomy creation with the Femto LDV Z8 causes the lowest level of PGE2 release compared with high-energy systems. 5-8 Authors have reported PGE2 levels ranging from 182.1 to 1911.4 pg/mL with high-energy laser platforms. 5,6,9,10 This is much higher than our reported level of 175.6 ±125.3 pg/mL (Figure 1).
CONCLUSION
PGE2 levels increase after both laser cataract surgery and conventional phacoemulsification, but significantly higher PGE2 levels are typically seen with laser cataract surgery.
Compared to the levels of PGE2 previously reported with high-energy laser platforms, the low-energy laser induces less release of the PGE2. When a topical NSAID was incorporated, the release of PGE2 in the low-energy laser was further reduced, to the levels seen in the conventional
phacoemulsification group. The oxidative stress induced during phacoemulsification strongly correlated with EPT and not the type of the surgery. EPT after femtosecond laser pretreatment of the lens is significantly shorter than with conventional cataract surgery, 11 which could potentially lead to reduced oxidative stress.
Also noteworthy is that the laser group had higher concentrations of IL-1RA than the conventional phacoemulsification group. Seeing that IL-1RA has been shown to suppress the proliferation of lens epithelial cells, this may be another positive attribute of laser cataract surgery in the battle against posterior capsular opacification.
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JODHBIR S. MEHTA, BS c (Hons), MBBS, P h D, FRCO phth , FRCS(E d ), FAM
Head, Corneal and External Eye Disease Department; Senior Consultant,
Refractive Surgery Department, Singapore National Eye Centre
Head, Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute
[email protected]
Financial disclosure: Travel support (Ziemer)