Preliminary Findings in Cataract Surgery Using a Digital Microscope Platform With Infrared Illumination.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of infrared (IR) illumination using a digital microscope platform to perform uncomplicated cataract surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective case series of 39 eyes (33 patients) that underwent cataract surgery under topical anesthesia. Patients were asked to choose between traditional microscope and IR microscope illumination prior to surgery. All cataract procedures were performed by a single surgeon. Primary outcomes were intraoperative complications, surgical time, effective phacoemulsification time (EPT), and patient preferences.

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 74.1 ± 9.24 years, with 35.9% male eyes, and 20.5% underwent femtosecond laser-assisted surgery. All patients in this series preferred the IR microscope illumination. Mean surgical time was 8.33 ± 4.02 min, and mean EPT was 1.77 ± 0.84 s. No intraoperative complications were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Cataract surgery using IR illumination demonstrated excellent safety and efficacy; patients preferred the IR illumination over a traditional microscope illumination. These preliminary findings support further investigation of IR-based visualization technology in ophthalmic surgeries.