EUREQUO platform for evaluating femtolaser cataract results
The new femtolaser technique for cataract surgery could profoundly change the way this type of intervention is carried out on a global scale. However, as with all major innovations, especially in the medical-surgical field, its implementation must be accompanied by careful verification in terms of safety and effectiveness.
Preliminary data in this respect seem positive, indeed there may even be advantages over the traditional techniques. To date, however, only a few comparative clinical studies have been carried out.
For this very reason, back in 2008, the ESCRS (European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons), promoted the creation of the platform FLACS (FemtoLaser Cataract Surgery)co-financed with EU funds.
On the initiative of Dr Peter Barry, this surgery data register was thus established cataract femtolaserwhich uses a EUREQUO platform, and is open to ophthalmic surgeons who wish to join.
At present, the database contains the results of approximately 1,200,000 cataract operations performed worldwide.
The first available data were analysed and presented by Dr. Peter Barry at the ESCRS 2014 congress in London: the results of approximately 2,000 femtocataracts were compared with 4,000 cataracts performed with the phaco technique during the same period and presenting similar pre-operative conditions.
The main aim of the study was to compare the incidence of complications with the two techniques in order to understand the extent to which femto can effectively become an alternative to phaco. The results were on the whole satisfactory in that the use of femto was not associated with an increase in complications and a reduction in visual acuity as was the case with the advent of phaco as a replacement for phaco. extracapsular technique about 30 years ago.
To increase the significance of this data, all surgeons who performed at least 50 femtocataracts can take part in this study, approved for the whole of Italy by the Verona Ethics Committee.
It must be made clear that FLACS is not a clinical trial: its aim is merely to compare the results of two different treatment groups, Femto vs Faco, in terms of visual acuity, surgically induced astigmatism, complications and biometric error. It is clearly imperative that the reports provided are reliable. All data on surgeons, clinics and patients will be anonymised in the database.
To register you can log on to FLACS platform and get in touch with lucia.brocato@escrs.org
Dr. Carmelo Chines
Direttore responsabile
English 
Italian