Comparing Methods for Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the world, with generally safe and effective outcomes. At Giliberti Eye and Laser Center we offer patients many options that will tailor the cataract procedure to best fit their needs. This not only includes different options of intraocular lens (IOL) implants, but also the opportunity to take advantage of advanced technology and a revolutionary laser that improves safety, accuracy, and clinical outcomes!
At Giliberti Eye and Laser Center, we specialize in laser cataract surgery using the OptiMedica Catalys® Laser System and the LenSx® Laser System. These systems create a customized surgical experience using a femtosecond laser, 3-D technology, and specialty software. This technology advances the cataract removal process, allows for greater precision than traditional cataract surgery, and is the most advanced technique available today!
Traditional Cataract Surgery
During traditional cataract surgery, all incisions into the cornea and openings in the lens capsule are done manually using hand-held surgical instruments. The goal is to make the lens capsule opening as circular as possible, as well as the right size for the intraocular lens (IOL) implant. An ultrasonic device is then used to break up and remove the cataract, following with the insertion of the IOL. While this traditional method is still widely used and performed, laser cataract surgery greatly advances the cataract removal procedure by using a system that is customized and tailored to each individual’s eye.
Laser Cataract Surgery
The OptiMedica Catalys® Laser System and the LenSx® Laser System both use an image guided system that accurately maps the contours of the eye in 3-D, and displays safety zones to determine exactly where to activate the laser for precise incisions into the cornea. The laser will then create the circular opening in the lens capsule for accessing and removing the cataract. Clinical studies have shown that use of the laser to create the circular opening is 10 times more accurate than what is achieved with the traditional hand-held method. The OptiMedica Catalys® Laser System and the LenSx® Laser System are also used to break up and soften the cataract, enabling it to be removed more gently and also with less ultrasound than is used in the traditional procedure. This can reduce inflammation and recovery time!
What is truly special about the OptiMedica Catalys® Laser System and the LenSx® Laser System is the ability to correct low-level astigmatism during the cataract procedure by changing the cornea’s shape to improve a patient’s vision even further. This means that many patients’ cataracts can be removed and their astigmatism corrected in just one quick surgery, eliminating the need for patients to undergo multiple procedures. In patients with moderate to high-level astigmatism, the use of the laser and a Toric (astigmatism) implant may reduce dependency on distance glasses.
With the OptiMedica Catalys® Laser System and the LenSx® Laser System, Giliberti Eye and Laser Center continues to offer the most innovative and advanced techniques for the benefit of our patients!
Don’t forget to check out our YouTube page to watch educational videos about each laser system! You can also take our Cataract Self Evaluation!
