Background: The aim of this study was to compare early clinical results regarding the safety and efficacy of dual-linear vs. conventional foot-pedal control in cataract surgery.
Methods: This was a paired-eye contralateral, retrospective, observational study. Each patient underwent cataract surgery in both eyes: one eye with dual-linear foot-pedal control (study group) and the other eye with conventional foot-pedal control (control group). Absolute phaco time (APT), average phaco power, effective phaco time (EPT), and surgical complications were analyzed and compared. Corneal endothelial cell count, corneal thickness, corneal volume, and best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) were measured preoperatively and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively.
Results: A total of 94 patients (188 eyes) were enrolled. The respective APT, average phaco power, and EPT values were 7.05 ± 5.31 s, 28.4 ± 1.00, and 2.05 ± 1.56 s in the study group and 6.82 ± 6.48 s, 18.9 ± 1.74, and 1.35 ± 1.35 s in the control group.
Conclusions: The average phaco power and EPT values were significantly higher in the study group. The safety of the dual-linear foot pedal was comparable to that of a conventional pedal in terms of endothelial cell loss, central corneal thickness, and surgical complications.
Keywords: cataract; corneal endothelium; phaco machine; phacoemulsification.