Laser Cataract Surgery

When a cataract clouds the lens of your eye, the surgical treatment option involves removing that lens and replacing it with an artificial one. These artificial intraocular lenses, or IOLs, traditionally have a single-focus that allows you to see clearly at one distance; however, modern multifocal lenses allow patients to see clearly at all distances, reducing or even eliminating their use of corrective eyewear. In addition, we also have the option of utilizing Toric lenses which can eliminate astigmatism and strengthen your vision for distance without having to depend on glasses that correct for astigmatism.

In the early days of cataract surgery, the intracapsular method of removing the cataract was utilized. This involved removing the clouded lens together with it’s capsule in one piece; a method that is now considered outdated. Nowadays, extracapsular cataract surgery is utilized, whereby your lens is removed, but the capsule remains in place adding support and improving the healing ability and stability of your eye. The extracapsular approach is the most commonly performed method of cataract surgery today. Once the lens of the eye has been removed, the IOL will be placed. The surgery usually takes less than 15 minutes while the patient is under local anesthesia.

In the last two decades, the extracapsular method of cataract surgery has been accomplished by breaking up the clouded lens with ultrasound (phacoemulsification). However, recent improvements in technology now allow the use of a computer-guided laser (Femtosecond Laser) to precisely perform many of the steps of the procedure. In summary, with today’s technology we can restore vision after cataracts with techniques that are Accurate, Bladeless, and Customized.

What are Cataracts?

Cataracts refer to the cloudiness that can occur on the lens of the eye. Cataracts are most commonly found in older adults. This is the leading cause of loss of vision among people over forty years old. Cataracts are characterized by a progressive impact on your vision. It may begin as a blurring, intensity of light and sun, and dullness in colors. It may appear as though you are looking through a piece of cloudy glass. Symptoms will continue to worsen if left untreated.

There are three types of cataracts that people can develop.

• Subcapsular Cataracts | These occur at the back of the lens in the eye. If you take high doses of steroid medication or have diabetes, you are at higher risk for developing this type of cataracts.
• Nuclear Cataracts | These occur in the central zone of the lens in the eye. This is the type of cataract most commonly associated with aging.
• Cortical Cataracts | These begin with opacities at the edges of your vision and move inward. The opacities usually appear as wedges in your peripheral vision with spokes moving inward toward the center.