Prostaglandin release in laser cataract Surgery
A recent study has noted that patients undergoing femtosecond laser cataract surgery seem to have increased prostaglandin levels in the aqueous versus patients having conventional, non laser surgery. This leads to the conclusion that those patients may be more prone to inflammation post operatively.
This study looked at 113 patients who underwent laser cataract surgery and 107 who had conventional cataract surgery. The laser group had significantly greater levels of prostaglandins.
My own observation is that this may indeed be true, as I have noticed more wound oedema and more Anterior chamber inflammation. The recommendations of this study is that patients should be pre-treated with (NSAID) Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory agents.
One has to remember, that although it may well be true that prostaglandin levels are higher, there is actually no clinical correlate, so in fact this observation may not have any clinical significance. Nonetheless, it makes clinical sense to use a NSAID as there is no down side.
It remains to be seen with further studies wether this finding amounts to anything important