Changes of Aqueous Humor Cytokine and Chemokine Profiles in Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery in Comparison to Conventional Phacoemulsification

FLACS triggers a distinct cytokine and growth factor profile in the aqueous humor, including elevated levels of IL-4, IL-12, FGF-basic, and TGF-β2 and a reduction in anti-inflammatory IL-10, indicating a shift toward proinflammatory and fibrotic signaling. These molecular changes may underlie immune activation and tissue remodeling not apparent in clinical examination and highlight the need for further studies to evaluate their long-term clinical relevance.