Laser Eye Treatments

cataract surgery

There is a conventional misconception that primary cataract surgery is implemented using a laser. This has no truth to it. The most recent and most efficient means used to carry out cataract surgery uses an ultrasound and a topical anesthetic, which promotes fast recovery.

Lasers, however, are used in a portion of patients for corrective cataract surgery when a clouding, or secondary cataracts develops behind the implanted lens, several months or years after primary cataract surgery has been performed.

Cataract laser surgery is performed when posterior capsule opacification occurs, also known as secondary cataracts, which blurs or obstructs vision, much the same as the original cataracts did. Just over 30 percent of patients who receive cataract surgery develop this condition.In these situations, a YAG laser is used to generate a small opening in the clouded capsule behind the implant lens which allows light to get to the retina with no interference resulting in clear eyesight. This is a minor outpatient service which takes a few minutes total, and is executed with no need of anesthesia.

Primary cataract surgery is when the eye’s clouded lens is removed by a cataract surgeon and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens, usually made of plastic or silicone. The procedure is usually performed on an out-patient basis, and is completed within 30 minutes.

Cataract surgery is not a LASIK procedure where a laser reshapes the cornea to correct eyesight.

During cataract surgery, the patient is usually sedated to reduce anxiety and an anesthetic is given to avoid discomfort or pain. The surgeon makes a tiny incision proximal to the cornea and inserts a surgical instrument which breaks up and removes the clouded lens. The intraocular implant lens is then inserted through the same incision and set into place.

Cataract surgery is not only a safe and effective procedure to remove cataracts, but it is one of the most widely performed surgeries in the United States with more than 3 million procedures taking place every year.

Performing primary cataract surgery with a laser is not far away and could become standard in the near future.  FDA clearance was granted for Femtosecond Laser Technology in late 2009 which includes making incisions in the eye with a laser that creates precisely targeted bursts of energy that will allow for easy access to the cloudy lens so that it can be removed and replaced with the implant.

Technorati Tags: cataract laser surgery, cataract surgeon, cataracts surgery

Tags: cataract laser surgery, cataract surgeon, cataracts surgery

This entry was posted on Friday, January 15th, 2010 at 10:00 am and is filed under Vision Correction. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.