Abstract:AIM: To investigate a novel phacoemulsification system “EVA NEXUS” (D.O.R.C., Dutch Opthalmic Research Center) in comparison to the existing system “EVA” in clinical use. And to compare both phacoemulsification systems in terms of efficiency, safety and postoperative inflammatory activity. METHODS: In this study standardized cataract surgery was performed on both eyes of the study participant, using the “EVA system” (control group, n=20) on one eye and the “EVA NEXUS system” (intervention group, n=20) on the other eye. Only patients with cataract LOCS Grading 1-3 and no accompanying eye diseases were included in this study. A total of 20 patients were included in this study, with each treatment arm including 20 eyes. During surgery a 0.1 mL aqueous humor sample was collected 1min after phacoemulsification to measure the total prostaglanin E2 concentrations using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The endothelial cell count, visual and refractive outcomes, and anterior chamber flare were evaluated preoperatively, and 1d, 1wk, and 3mo postoperatively. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between both groups regarding intraoperative safety parameters including effective phacoemulsification time (P=0.904), balanced saline solution flow (P=0.701) and total surgery time (P=0.565). Postoperative prostaglandin E2 levels, anterior chamber flare as well as endothelial cell loss tended to be lower in the NEXUS-Group, however not being statistically significant (P=0.718; 0.164; 0.486). Both systems provided similar clinical outcomes, regarding best corrected visual acuity and refractive parameters, showing no statistically significant differences between both groups. CONCLUSION: Both systems show a high level of safety and efficency with similar results in terms of safety parameters including postoperative inflammatory activity and endothelial cell loss as well as visual and refractive outcomes. Although statistically not significant, the EVA NEXUS system tends to cause less postoperative inflammation with lower prostaglandin E2 levels and lower anterior chamber flare values.
