Cataract Surgery
Traditional cataract surgery, or phaco, is minimally invasive. After numbing the eye, a tiny incision is created through which an ultrasonic probe enters to break up the cataract (cloudy lens) into several, very small pieces. These emulsified pieces of the cataract are gently vacuumed out of your eye.
Once the cloudy lens is cleared and removed, a new artificial lens is implanted. This lens is known as an intraocular lens (IOL), and slips through the tiny opening previously created. Niswander Eye Center offers the latest in IOL technology and your doctor will discuss the best available option for you.
The latest development in cataract surgery involves the LenSx laser treatment. Laser cataract surgery was first performed in the US in 2010. Traditional cataract surgery uses manual instruments and blades for the major steps of surgery. By replacing these hand-held instruments with the precision of a computer-controlled laser, the precision and accuracy of the surgical procedure will only improve.
What does the LenSx laser do during cataract surgery?
The LenSx femtosecond laser allows us to do the following:
- Incisions are made with the laser.
- The circular opening made in the envelope holding your lens is made with exact precision using the computer-controlled laser. Studies have shown that with the laser opening the lens implant position in the eye is more predictable. We believe that a more predictable lens position will lead to better results.
- The cataract is pre-softened and fragmented with the laser.
- Corneal shape can be precisely improved to reduce and eliminate corneal astigmatism.
- We believe that laser cataract surgery will set the new standard for precision, accuracy and safety with cataract surgery. Laser cataract surgery when paired with the latest lens implant technology will enable our patients to see their best with the least reliance on spectacles and contact lenses.
Dropless Cataract Surgery...Cataract Surgery Just Became Easier!
In Dropless Cataract Surgery, medicine is placed in the eye at the time of surgery. The medicine is a combination of an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory, which is absorbed by the eye over a month, providing the patient with the benefits of the medication without the need of eye drops.
- No high cost post-op medications
- Administered by your surgeon during cataract procedure, eliminating the need for post-op eye drops.
- The medication keeps working during post-op time, so there's no worry about remembering to use your eye drops.