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The Femtosecond Laser in Residency Training (FLIRT) Pilot Study

The Femtosecond Laser in Residency Training (FLIRT) Pilot Study: Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Versus Manual Cataract Extraction and Intraocular Lens Implantation

Status
Withdrawn
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03115216
Acronym
FLIRT
Enrollment
0
Registered
2017-04-14
Start date
2017-07-31
Completion date
2018-07-31
Last updated
2019-09-24

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cataract, Intraocular Lens Implantation

Brief summary

This pilot study aims to primarily assess the rate of complication of anterior vitrectomy for patients undergoing femtosecond laser-assisted (FLA) cataract extraction and intraocular lens placement (CEIOL) compared to manual CEIOL, when performed by resident physicians under direct attending supervision. In this pilot study, the investigators aim to assess what the incidence of anterior vitrectomy is for each group, in order to better understand the sample size needed to assess whether there is a difference between these two groups. Secondarily, it will gather preliminary data on safety and refractive outcomes for patients undergoing these interventions.

Interventions

PROCEDURECEIOL

Manual cataract extraction and intraocular lens placement

PROCEDUREFLA-CEIOL

Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract extraction and intraocular lens placement

Sponsors

Alcon Research
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
University of Southern California
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients of the Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center (LAC+USC) who are 40 years or older with visually significant cataracts asking for surgical intervention. * Cataract must be visually and clinically significant on examination as determined by the resident surgeon and the attending physician.

Exclusion criteria

* Age less than 40 * Visual acuity 20/30 or better with refraction in the study eye * Any previous ocular surgery * Patient request for monovision or for correction at near at the expense of distance * Patient and physician decision to use an IOL implant other than monofocal IOL * Corneal pathology (e.g. Fuch's dystrophy, corneal opacity or scar, corneal ectasia) * Posterior or anterior capsular plaque * Posterior polar cataract * White cataract * Subluxated lens, weak zonules, or phacodonesis * Pseudoexfoliation syndrome * Failure of preoperative pupillary dilatation (\< 6 mm dilation) * History of uveitis * History of retinal detachment * Untreated or active proliferative diabetic retinopathy * Untreated or active diabetic macular edema * Ocular diseases that may affect visual acuity or the operation (including and not limited to macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, macular hole, advanced or end-stage glaucoma) * Neurological or systemic diseases that may affect visual acuity or the safety of the operation

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of anterior vitrectomy6 monthsOf all cases in each group, what percent results in any complication that needed conversion to anterior vitrectomy

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of posterior capsular tear6 monthsComplication where the posterior capsule is torn or ruptured
Incidence of anterior capsular tears or tags6 monthsComplication where the anterior capsule is torn or ruptured
Incidence of zonal injury6 monthsComplication where the cataractous nucleus or implanted IOL falls posteriorly.
Incidence of corneal injury6 monthsComplication when the cornea is injured during surgery
New onset macular edema6 monthsPresence of macular edema, by clinical evaluation or optical coherence tomography (OCT), which was not present before surgery
New onset ocular hypertension or glaucoma6 monthsOcular hypertension or glaucoma, which was not present before surgery
Incidence of dropped nucleus or intraocular lens (IOL)6 monthsComplication when the nucleus or implanted intraocular lens falls posteriorly
Contrast sensitivity6 monthsMeasured by Pelli-Robson Contrast Sensitivity Chart and the Contrast Sensitivity Testing (CSV-1000E)
Spherical equivalent6 monthsCalculated from the best corrected visual acuity
Corneal edema6 monthsGraded by the surgeon on a scale of 0 to 3 (none, mild, moderate, severe)
Central corneal thickness6 monthsMeasured by pachymetry
Intraocular lens centration6 monthsSubjectively graded by the surgeon on a scale of 0 to 4 (poor, average, fair, excellent centration).
Educational gains of the resident surgeon6 monthsDone through surveys distributed to resident physicians throughout the course of the study
Postoperative outcomes such as uncorrected and best corrected distance visual acuity6 monthsMeasured by manifest refraction

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026