AIM: To explore the clinical effect of femtosecond laser combined with cataract phacoemulsification(PHACO)in the treatment of senile patients with cataract.

METHODS: The clinical data of 78(78 eyes)patients with cataract were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with femtosecond laser combined with PHACO were included in observation group(40 cases in 40 eyes), and patients with PHACO alone were included in control group(38 cases in 38 eyes). The changes of intraocular pressure(IOP), best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)\〖logarithmic visual acuity chart(LogMAR)\〗, central corneal thickness(CCT), corneal endothelial cells(CEC)count and tear oxidative stress indexes \〖prostaglandin E₂(PGE₂), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)\〗 were compared before operation, at 1d,1wk and 1mo after operation, and phacoemulsification time and the occurrence of complications within 1mo after operation were analyzed in the two groups.

RESULTS: At 1d, 1wk and 1mo after operation, the values of IOP and BCVA in two groups were decreased significantly compared with those before operation, and the values showed significantly decreasing trend with the prolongation of postoperative observation time, and the values in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group after treatment(P<0.05). The levels of CCT and PGE₂ in two groups were significantly increased compared with those before operation, and the levels showed significantly decreasing trend with the prolonged observation time, and the levels in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05). The levels of CEC count and GSH-Px in two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before operation, and the levels showed an obvious upward trend with the prolonged observation time, and the levels in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05). The phacoemulsification time and the total incidence rate of complications within 1mo after operation in observation group were significantly lower than those in control group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Femtosecond laser combined with PHACO can effectively improve the levels of IOP, CCT and CEC count in elderly patients with cataract, and reduce the occurrence risk of postoperative complications, and it is beneficial to prognosis and recovery.