This clinical study is a controlled, open, prospective, single-centre, multi-surgeon eye study to determine the safety and efficacy of intraocular cuts for femtosecond laser assisted lens frag-mentation to support phacoemulsification of the cataractous lens prior to IOL implantation. The cuts are applied by means of the FEMTEC femtosecond laser system with the CustomLens soft-ware module using a cylindrical and radial cut pattern with diameter and height dependent on anterior chamber depth, pupil diameter and ocular lens size.

The hypothesis of the study is that by means of femtosecond laser assisted lens fragmentation the required ultrasound energy used for phacoemulsification can be reduced in a safe and effective way.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clear corneal media
• Patients must be at least 18 years of age.

Exclusion Criteria:

• On a keratometric map of the cornea, the minimal and maximal K-values of the central 3mm zone must not differ by more than 5 dioptres. (exclusion criterium for Group A only)
• The maximum K- value may not exceed 60 D, the minimal value may not be smaller than 37 D. (exclusion criterium for Group A only)
• Corneal disease or pathology that precludes transmission of laser wavelength or distortion of laser light. (exclusion criterium for Group A only)
• Subjects with a poorly dilating pupil or other defect of the pupil that prevents the iris from adequate retraction peripherally.
• Lens/zonular instability such as, but not restricted to, Marfan's Syndrome, Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome, etc.
• Previous intraocular or corneal surgery of any kind, including any type of surgery for either refractive or therapeutic purposes in either eye.
• Known sensitivity to planned concomitant medications.
• Patients with disorders of the ocular muscle, such as nystagmus or strabismus
• Keratoconus
• Patients with woundhealing disorders such as connective tissue disease, autoimmune illnesses, immunodeficiency illnesses, ocular herpes zoster or simplex, endocrine diseases, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis
• Abnormal examination results from slit lamp, Fundus, IOL Master
• Abnormal examination results from Orbscan (exclusion criterium for Group A only)
• Patients with an autoimmune disease, collagenosis or clinically significant atopy.
• Patients who are pregnant or nursing.
• Patients who do not give informed consent.
• ACD < 2.4 mm or ACD > 4.5 mm as measured by ultrasonic examination (exclusion criterium for Group A only)