Quality of life assessment for nuclear, cortical, posterior subcapsular patients before and after cataract surgery / Evaluación de la calidad de vida de pacientes nucleares, corticales y subcapsulares posteriores antes y después de la cirugía de cataratas

Purpose: The impact of visual outcomes of cataract surgery can be measured using a questionnaire. The aim of our study was to evaluate how patient quality of life changes after cataract surgery and if there are differences between the responses of patients with nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular cataracts, which has not been studied before. Method: We studied 210 cataract patients who were divided into 3 cataract groups based on their cataract type: nuclear (n = 80), cortical (n = 70), and posterior subcapsular (PSC) (n = 60). The patients completed the Visual Function Index (VF-14) questionnaire before, 2 weeks and 1 month after bilateral cataract surgery. The results were analysed using one-way ANOVA (significance level 5 %) and were compared over time and between the cataract groups. Results: Before the cataract surgery, cortical cataract patients had the lowest questionnaire score compared to nuclear and posterior subcapsular cataract groups (p = 0.08). After cataract surgery, cortical cataract patients experienced the greatest improvement in near distance daily activities, while PSC cataract patients experienced the greatest improvement in far distance daily activities (p = 0.38). Before surgery, nuclear cataract patients had the highest questionnaire scores compared to the other cataract groups (p = 0.08). Conclusion: At the 1 month follow-up, there were no statistically significant differences in questionnaire scores between the cataract groups for any of the questions. Overall, cortical cataract patients showed a trend to experience the greatest subjective improvement in quality of life after cataract removal, followed by nuclear and posterior subcapsular patients.(AU)

[Evaluation of the accuracy of modern intraocular lens calculation formulas when optical biometry is not possible]. / Otsenka tochnosti sovremennykh formul rascheta intraokulyarnykh linz pri nevozmozhnosti vypolneniya opticheskoi biometrii.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the accuracy of modern intraocular lens (IOL) calculation formulas using axial length (AL) data obtained by ultrasound biometry (UBM) compared to the third-generation SRK/T calculator. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 230 patients (267 eyes) with severe lens opacities that prevented optical biometry, who underwent phacoemulsification (PE) with IOL implantation. IOL power calculation according to the SRK/T formula was based on AL and anterior chamber depth obtained by UBM (Tomey Biometer Al-100) and keratometry on the Topcon KR 8800 autorefractometer. To adapt AL for new generation calculators - Barrett Universal II (BUII), Hill RBF ver. 3.0 (RBF), Kane and Ladas Super Formula (LSF) - the retinal thickness (0.20 mm) was added to the axial length determined by UBM, and then the optical power of the artificial lens was calculated. The mean error and its modulus value were used as criteria for the accuracy of IOL calculation. RESULTS: A significant difference (p=0.008) in the mean IOL calculation error was found between the formulas. Pairwise analysis revealed differences between SRK/T (-0.32±0.58 D) and other formulas - BUII (-0.16±0.52 D; p=0.014), RBF (-0.17±0.51 D; p=0.024), Kane (-0.17±0.52 D; p=0.029), but not with the LSF calculator (-0.19±0.53 D; p=0.071). No significant differences between the formulas were found in terms of mean error modulus (p=0.238). New generation calculators showed a more frequent success in hitting target refraction (within ±1.00 D in more than 95% of cases) than the SRK/T formula (86%). CONCLUSION: The proposed method of adding 0.20 mm to the AL determined by UBM allows using this parameter in modern IOL calculation formulas and improving the refractive results of PE, especially in eyes with non-standard anterior segment structure.

[Optimization of phacoemulsification technique for Morgagnian cataract]. / Optimizatsiya tekhnologii fakoemul'sifikatsii morganievoi katarakty.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop a new optimized phacoemulsification technique for Morgagnian cataract taking into account the anatomical and topographic parameters of the lens nucleus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A working classification of Morgagnian cataract was developed based on the size of the nucleus: if the edge of the nucleus is visualized at the upper edge of the pupil or between the upper edge and the middle of the pupil, it was classified as an initial stage of Morgagnian cataract with a large nucleus; if the upper edge of the nucleus is visualized in the middle of the pupil and below, it was classified as an advanced stage of Morgagnian cataract with a small nucleus. The first group included six patients who underwent surgery using the scaffold technique with removal of the whole small nucleus into the anterior chamber. The second group included 11 patients who underwent surgery using the scaffold technique with removal of the last fragment of the nucleus into the anterior chamber. RESULTS: The use of the scaffold technique with removal of the nucleus into the anterior chamber helped reduce the number of intraoperative complications to 16.7% in the first group, compared to 27.3% in the second group, and the percentage of endothelial cell loss to 10.1% in the first group, compared to 10.7% in the second group. CONCLUSIONS: The anatomical and topographic features of the lens and the anterior segment of the eye in Morgagnian cataract with a small nucleus allow for preliminary implantation of an intraocular lens into the capsular bag to protect the posterior capsule during phacoemulsification of the nucleus with minimal mechanical, hydrodynamic and acoustic damage to the surrounding structures of the eye.

[Outcomes of extended depth of focus intraocular lenses implantation]. / Rezul'tat implantatsii intraokulyarnykh linz s rasshirennoi glubinoi fokusa.

Extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lenses (IOLs) are the latest IOL designs. In recent years, several models of EDOF IOLs have become available in Russia, two of which (Tecnis Symfony and Acrysof IQ Vivity) are implanted in our clinic. Comparative studies devoted to the results of implantation of the new EDOF IOLs are rare in the available literature. PURPOSE: This article compares the outcomes of implantation of two EDOF IOLs in patients with presbyopia and/or cataract. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The prospective study included 60 patients (81 eyes) after implantation of EDOF IOL Tecnis Symfony (32 patients, 45 eyes; group 1) or EDOF IOL AcrySof IQ Vivity (28 patients, 36 eyes; group 2). The mean follow-up period was 3.9±1.3 months. RESULTS: All groups showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in uncorrected near visual acuity (UCNVA), intermediate visual acuity (UCIVA), and distance visual acuity (UCDVA) at the maximum follow-up time compared to preoperative values. In group 1, the best corrected near visual acuity (BCNVA) increased from 0.61±0.10 to 0.82±0.16 at the maximum follow-up time, and in group 2 - from 0.58±0.08 to 0.67±0.12 (p>0.05). Both groups showed a significant increase in best corrected intermediate and distance visual acuity (BCIVA and BCDVA) at the maximum follow-up time. The increase in the indicator compared to the preoperative period was not significant in both groups (p>0.05). The frequency of side optical phenomena was low in both groups. No significant differences were found between the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study presents a comparative analysis of the results of implantation of two different EDOF IOLs. Both lenses were comparable in most of the studied parameters, including providing good distance and intermediate vision, functional near vision, as well as a low frequency of side optical phenomena. In all cases the patients were satisfied with the results of the surgical intervention.

Intraoperative quantitative crystalline lens nuclear opacities analysis based on crystalline lenSx platform.

PURPOSE: The main objective is to quantify the lens nuclear opacity using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and to evaluate its association with Lens Opacities Classification System III (LOCS-III) system, lens thickness (LT), and surgical parameters. The secondary objective is to assess the diagnostic model performance for hard nuclear cataract. METHODS: This study included 70 eyes of 57 adults with cataract, with 49 (70%) and 21 (30%) in training and validation cohort, respectively. Correlations of the average nuclear density (AND) /maximum nuclear density (MND) with LOCS-III scores, LT, and surgical parameters were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, receiver operating characteristic curves and calibration curves were performed for the diagnostic of hard nuclear cataract. RESULTS: The pre-operative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), mean axial length (AL), and LT were 1.20 ± 0.47 log MAR, 15.50 ± 2.87 mmHg, 27.34 ± 3.77 mm and 4.32 ± 0.45 mm, respectively. The average nuclear opalescence (NO) and nuclear colour (NC) scores were 3.61 ± 0.94 and 3.50 ± 0.91 (ranging from 1.00 to 6.90), respectively. The average AND and MND were 137.94 ± 17.01 and 230.01 ± 8.91, respectively. NC and NO scores both significantly correlated with the AND (rNC = 0.733, p = 0.000; rNO = 0.755, p = 0.000) and MND (rNC = 0.643, p = 0.000; rNO = 0.634, p = 0.000). In the training cohort, the area under the curve (AUC) of the model was 0.769 (P < 0.001, 95%CI 0.620-0.919), which had a good degree of differentiation (Fig. 2a). The calibration curve showed good agreement between predicted and actual probability. CONCLUSION: The nuclear density measurement on SD-OCT images can serve as an objective and reliable indicator for quantifying nuclear density.

Breaking Barriers: Nanomedicine-Based Drug Delivery for Cataract Treatment.

Cataract is a leading cause of blindness globally, and its surgical treatment poses a significant burden on global healthcare. Pharmacologic therapies, including antioxidants and protein aggregation reversal agents, have attracted great attention in the treatment of cataracts in recent years. Due to the anatomical and physiological barriers of the eye, the effectiveness of traditional eye drops for delivering drugs topically to the lens is hindered. The advancements in nanomedicine present novel and promising strategies for addressing challenges in drug delivery to the lens, including the development of nanoparticle formulations that can improve drug penetration into the anterior segment and enable sustained release of medications. This review introduces various cutting-edge drug delivery systems for cataract treatment, highlighting their physicochemical properties and surface engineering for optimal design, thus providing impetus for further innovative research and potential clinical applications of anti-cataract drugs.

Myopia and Nutrient Associations with Age-Related Eye Diseases in Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional KNHANES Study.

This study assessed the prevalence of myopia, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration among Koreans over 40, utilizing data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VII, 2018). We analyzed 204,973 adults (44% men, 56% women; mean age 58.70 ± 10.75 years), exploring the association between myopia and these eye diseases through multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for confounders and calculating adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results showed a myopia prevalence of 44.6%, cataracts at 19.4%, macular degeneration at 16.2%, and glaucoma at 2.3%, with significant differences across ages and genders. A potential link was found between myopia and an increased risk of cataracts and macular degeneration, but not with glaucoma. Additionally, a higher dietary intake of carbohydrates, polyunsaturated and n-6 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals correlated with lower risks of these diseases, underscoring the importance of the diet in managing and preventing age-related eye conditions. These findings highlight the need for dietary considerations in public health strategies and confirm myopia as a significant risk factor for specific eye diseases in the aging Korean population.

[Rotational technique for emulsification of soft lens nucleus]. / Rotatsionnaya metodika emul'sifikatsii myagkogo yadra khrustalika.

Effective and atraumatic removal of a soft lens nucleus requires different surgical techniques compared to phacoemulsification of a dense nucleus. PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop a non-ultrasound technique for emulsification of a soft lens nucleus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-seven patients (57 eyes) underwent surgery. In 23 cases, early or immature cataracts were detected, and in 34 cases, lens removal was performed for refractive purposes in high myopia and complex myopic astigmatism. Phacoemulsifier Centurion Vision System (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., USA) was used for the surgery. Aspiration of soft lens nucleus was done using a rotational technique. The following aspects were evaluated in the course of the surgery: the volume of the required irrigation solution, and the frequency needing to involve ultrasound for complete emulsification of the lens nucleus. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were also assessed. RESULTS: The surgery was uneventful in all cases. There were no violations of the integrity of capsulorhexis edge. The need for short pulses of minimal power ultrasound during the removal of the soft lens using this technique arose only in 11 (19.3%) cases. The effective ultrasound time was less than 1 second. The required volume of irrigation solution was 33.0 (24.0; 43.0) ml, which does not differ significantly from that in ultrasonic phacoemulsification. CONCLUSIONS: The use of modern phacoemulsifiers providing a high vacuum level allows successful removal of a soft lens without using ultrasound, which prevents its negative impact on the ocular tissues. The use of adequate surgical techniques, including the optimal direction of rotation of the lens nucleus in the rotational technique, improves the efficiency of soft lens nucleus removal.

[Influence of the pattern of femtosecond laser-assisted lens nucleus fragmentation on the energy and hydrodynamic parameters of phacoemulsification]. / Vliyanie patterna fragmentatsii yadra khrustalika femtosekundnym lazerom na energeticheskie i gidrodinamicheskie parametry fakoemul'sifikatsii.

The influence of various patterns of preliminary femtosecond laser-assisted fragmentation of the lens nucleus on the energy and hydrodynamic parameters of phacoemulsification remains insufficiently studied. PURPOSE: This study evaluates the influence of various patterns of preliminary femtosecond laser-assisted fragmentation of the lens nucleus on the energy, hydrodynamic parameters of phacoemulsification, and the degree of corneal endothelial cell loss. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Hybrid phacoemulsification was performed in 336 patients (336 eyes) with grade IV immature cataract according to the Buratto classification in three age-matched groups. Group 1 included 103 patients (103 eyes) who underwent hybrid phacoemulsification with preliminary femtosecond laser-assisted fragmentation of the nucleus with a «pizza¼ pattern (division of the nucleus with 10 radial cuts). Group 2 included 112 patients (112 eyes) who underwent femtosecond laser-assisted fragmentation of the nucleus with a «cylinders¼ pattern (division of the nucleus with 8 radial cuts in combination with 5 circular cuts). Group 3 included 121 patients (121 eyes) who underwent femtosecond laser-assisted fragmentation of the nucleus with a «grid¼ pattern (division of the nucleus with 8 radial cuts in combination with multiple mutually perpendicular cuts in the central zone in the form of a grid with a 0.5 mm cell). Effective ultrasound time and the volume of irrigation solution for emulsification of the lens nucleus fragments were determined during the operation. The loss of corneal endothelial cells was assessed 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: The minimum effective ultrasound time was noted after using the "grid" pattern - 4.05 (2.88; 4.74) s, which was significantly less than with the "cylinders" pattern - 4.97 (3.78; 5.88) s and the "pizza" pattern - 6.15 (4.52; 7.75) s (p<0.05). The effective ultrasound time when using the "cylinders" pattern was significantly less than with the "pizza" pattern (p<0.05). The volume of irrigation solution used for emulsification of the lens nucleus fragments was significantly less in the "grid" pattern - 41.5 (33.5; 49.5) ml compared to the "cylinders" patterns 58.5 (51.0; 66.0), p<0.05 and "pizza" pattern 75.0 (66.0; 83.5), p<0.01. The volume of irrigation solution when using the "cylinders" pattern was significantly less than when using the "pizza" pattern (p<0.05). The loss of corneal endothelial cells after using the "grid" pattern was 8.82 (7.59; 9.87)%, which was significantly less than after the "cylinders" patterns - 9.97 (8.81; 10.83)%, p<0.05 and "pizza" - 11.70 (10.62; 12.97)%, p<0.05. At the same time, the loss of endothelial cells after using the "cylinders" pattern was significantly less than after the "pizza" pattern (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The choice of the optimal pattern of preliminary femtosecond laser-assisted fragmentation of the lens nucleus provides a significant decrease in the energy and hydrodynamic parameters of phacoemulsification and, accordingly, the loss of corneal endothelial cells.

[Surgical technique for aspiration of soft lens nucleus with preoperative femtosecond laser-assisted fragmentation]. / Khirurgicheskaya tekhnika aspiratsii myagkogo yadra khrustalika s predvaritel'noi femtolazernoi fragmentatsiei.

Fragmentation and aspiration of soft cataracts require different surgical techniques and approaches compared to the removal of dense nuclei, including when using a femtosecond laser. PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop a non-ultrasound technique for aspiration of a soft lens nucleus after its preliminary femtosecond laser-assisted fragmentation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 63 patients (63 eyes) aged 23 to 40 years who underwent surgery. In 27 cases, early or immature cataract was observed, and in 36 cases, cataract removal was performed for refractive purposes in high myopia and complex myopic astigmatism. The VICTUS femtosecond laser surgical system (Technolas Perfect Vision GmbH, Germany) was used for preliminary fragmentation of the lens nucleus. Surgeries were performed using the Centurion Vision System phacoemulsifier (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., USA). The volume of the required irrigation solution was evaluated during the surgery. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were assessed. RESULTS: The surgery was performed without complications in all cases. Capsulorhexis edge was completely preserved along its entire circumference. The study showed the fundamental possibility of aspirating a cataract with a nucleus of grade I-II density without low-frequency ultrasound after preliminary femtosecond laser-assisted fragmentation of the nucleus with a "grid" pattern, which ensures minimal fragment size in the central zone of the nucleus. The volume of irrigation solution required for aspiration of the nucleus was 36.0 (27.0; 44.0) ml, which does not significantly differ from the volume of solution during ultrasound phacoemulsification of a nucleus of such density. CONCLUSIONS: Femtosecond laser-assisted fragmentation of the lens nucleus with a "grid" pattern and phacoemulsifier systems with a high vacuum level allow effective aspiration of a soft lens without using low-frequency ultrasound.

miR-26 Deficiency Causes Alterations in Lens Transcriptome and Results in Adult-Onset Cataract.

Purpose: Despite strong evidence demonstrating that normal lens development requires regulation governed by microRNAs (miRNAs), the functional role of specific miRNAs in mammalian lens development remains largely unexplored. Methods: A comprehensive analysis of miRNA transcripts in the newborn mouse lens, exploring both differential expression between lens epithelial cells and lens fiber cells and overall miRNA abundance, was conducted by miRNA sequencing. Mouse lenses lacking each of three abundantly expressed lens miRNAs (miR-184, miR-26, and miR-1) were analyzed to explore the role of these miRNAs in lens development. Results: Mice lacking all three copies of miR-26 (miR-26TKO) developed postnatal cataracts as early as 4 to 6 weeks of age. RNA sequencing analysis of neonatal lenses from miR-26TKO mice exhibited abnormal reduced expression of a cohort of genes found to be lens enriched and linked to cataract (e.g., Foxe3, Hsf4, Mip, Tdrd7, and numerous crystallin genes) and abnormal elevated expression of genes related to neural development (Lhx3, Neurod4, Shisa7, Elavl3), inflammation (Ccr1, Tnfrsf12a, Csf2ra), the complement pathway, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (Tnfrsf1a, Ccl7, Stat3, Cntfr). Conclusions: miR-1, miR-184, and miR-26 are each dispensable for normal embryonic lens development. However, loss of miR-26 causes lens transcriptome changes and drives cataract formation.

Impact of lens autofluorescence and opacification on retinal imaging.

BACKGROUND: Retinal imaging, including fundus autofluorescence (FAF), strongly depends on the clearness of the optical media. Lens status is crucial since the ageing lens has both light-blocking and autofluorescence (AF) properties that distort image analysis. Here, we report both lens opacification and AF metrics and the effect on automated image quality assessment. METHODS: 227 subjects (range: 19-89 years old) received quantitative AF of the lens (LQAF), Scheimpflug, anterior chamber optical coherence tomography as well as blue/green FAF (BAF/GAF), and infrared (IR) imaging. LQAF values, the Pentacam Nucleus Staging score and the relative lens reflectivity were extracted to estimate lens opacification. Mean opinion scores of FAF and IR image quality were compiled by medical readers. A regression model for predicting image quality was developed using a convolutional neural network (CNN). Correlation analysis was conducted to assess the association of lens scores, with retinal image quality derived from human or CNN annotations. RESULTS: Retinal image quality was generally high across all imaging modalities (IR (8.25±1.99) >GAF >BAF (6.6±3.13)). CNN image quality prediction was excellent (average mean absolute error (MAE) 0.9). Predictions were comparable to human grading. Overall, LQAF showed the highest correlation with image quality grading criteria for all imaging modalities (eg, Pearson correlation±CI -0.35 (-0.50 to 0.18) for BAF/LQAF). BAF image quality was most vulnerable to an increase in lenticular metrics, while IR (-0.19 (-0.38 to 0.01)) demonstrated the highest resilience. CONCLUSION: The use of CNN-based retinal image quality assessment achieved excellent results. The study highlights the vulnerability of BAF to lenticular remodelling. These results can aid in the development of cut-off values for clinical studies, ensuring reliable data collection for the monitoring of retinal diseases.

Association of autoimmune and allergic diseases with senile cataract: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Many observational studies have been reported that patients with autoimmune or allergic diseases seem to have a higher risk of developing senile cataract, but the views are not consistent. In order to minimize the influence of reverse causality and potential confounding factors, we performed Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the genetic causal associations between autoimmune, allergic diseases and senile cataract. Methods: Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with ten common autoimmune and allergic diseases were obtained from the IEU Open genome-wide association studies (GWAS) database. Summary-level GWAS statistics for clinically diagnosed senile cataract were obtained from the FinnGen research project GWAS, which consisted of 59,522 individuals with senile cataracts and 312,864 control individuals. MR analysis was conducted using mainly inverse variance weighted (IVW) method and further sensitivity analysis was performed to test robustness. Results: As for ten diseases, IVW results confirmed that type 1 diabetes (OR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.05-1.08; p = 2.24×10-12), rheumatoid arthritis (OR = 1.05; 95% CI = 1.02-1.08; p = 1.83×10-4), hypothyroidism (OR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.42-4.06; p = 1.12×10-3), systemic lupus erythematosus (OR = 1.02; 95% CI = 1.01-1.03; p = 2.27×10-3), asthma (OR = 1.02; 95% CI = 1.01-1.03; p = 1.2×10-3) and allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.02-1.11; p = 2.15×10-3) were correlated with the risk of senile cataract. Celiac disease (OR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.01-1.08; P = 0.0437) and atopic dermatitis (OR = 1.05; 95% CI = 1.01-1.10; P = 0.0426) exhibited a suggestive connection with senile cataract after Bonferroni correction. These associations are consistent across weighted median and MR Egger methods, with similar causal estimates in direction and magnitude. Sensitivity analysis further proved that these associations were reliable. Conclusions: The results of the MR analysis showed that there were causal relationships between type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, systemic lupus erythematosus, asthma, allergic rhinitis and senile cataract. To clarify the possible role of autoimmune and allergy in the pathophysiology of senile cataract, further studies are needed.

Visualization of Cataract Surgery Steps With 4D Microscope-Integrated Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography in Ex Vivo Porcine Eyes.

Purpose: To investigate the visualization capabilities of high-speed swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) in cataract surgery. Methods: Cataract surgery was simulated in wet labs with ex vivo porcine eyes. Each phase of the surgery was visualized with a novel surgical microscope-integrated SS-OCT with a variable imaging speed of over 1 million A-scans per second. It was designed to provide four-dimensional (4D) live-volumetric videos, live B-scans, and volume capture scans. Results: Four-dimensional videos, B-scans, and volume capture scans of corneal incision, ophthalmic viscosurgical device injection, capsulorrhexis, phacoemulsification, intraocular lens (IOL) injection, and position of unfolded IOL in the capsular bag were recorded. The flexibility of the SS-OCT system allowed us to tailor the scanning parameters to meet the specific demands of dynamic surgical steps and static pauses. The entire length of the eye was recorded in a single scan, and unfolding of the IOL was visualized dynamically. Conclusions: The presented novel visualization method for fast ophthalmic surgical microscope-integrated intraoperative OCT imaging in cataract surgery allowed the visualization of all major steps of the procedure by achieving large imaging depths covering the entire eye and high acquisition speeds enabling live volumetric 4D-OCT imaging. This promising technology may become an integral part of routine and advanced robotic-assisted cataract surgery in the future. Translational Relevance: We demonstrate the visualization capabilities of a cutting edge swept-source OCT system integrated into an ophthalmic surgical microscope during cataract surgery.

Cataract-1K Dataset for Deep-Learning-Assisted Analysis of Cataract Surgery Videos.

In recent years, the landscape of computer-assisted interventions and post-operative surgical video analysis has been dramatically reshaped by deep-learning techniques, resulting in significant advancements in surgeons' skills, operation room management, and overall surgical outcomes. However, the progression of deep-learning-powered surgical technologies is profoundly reliant on large-scale datasets and annotations. In particular, surgical scene understanding and phase recognition stand as pivotal pillars within the realm of computer-assisted surgery and post-operative assessment of cataract surgery videos. In this context, we present the largest cataract surgery video dataset that addresses diverse requisites for constructing computerized surgical workflow analysis and detecting post-operative irregularities in cataract surgery. We validate the quality of annotations by benchmarking the performance of several state-of-the-art neural network architectures for phase recognition and surgical scene segmentation. Besides, we initiate the research on domain adaptation for instrument segmentation in cataract surgery by evaluating cross-domain instrument segmentation performance in cataract surgery videos. The dataset and annotations are publicly available in Synapse.