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Key findings
While 62% of respondents do not perform femtosecond
laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS), those who do re-
ported an average use of 8% among all of their cataract
procedures. Overall, FLACS among U.S. respondents is
higher (10% of U.S. cataract procedures compared to 6%
of non-U.S.), and 18% of U.S. respondents said 21% or
more of their patient volume is FLACS, compared to 8%
having this volume outside the U.S.
Those who have not adopted FLACS cited economic
viability, lack of data supporting clinical benefits, and
patient flow, time, and efficiency issues as barriers.
Where respondents think femtosecond laser use could
provide the most clinical benefit is in capsulorhexis
creation (74%), making arcuate incisions (68%), and/
or lens fragmentation (60%).
The majority of ophthalmologists
have not yet adopted FLACS, with
economic viability, lack of data
supporting clinical benefits, and
patient flow being the primary reasons.
However, the majority of respondents
think that the femtosecond laser offers
clinical benefits for capsulorhexis
creation, arcuate incisions, and lens
fragmentation. FLACS clearly offers
benefits over conventional cataract
surgery for many ophthalmologists
and their patients. These benefits
must become more substantial before
widespread adoption will occur.
Eric Donnenfeld, MD, advisor,
Refractive Clinical Committee
Laser-assisted cataract surgery
7 • 2017 ASCRS Clinical Survey
