What Are The Advantages of Having Laser Cataract Surgery?

March 13th, 2020

You will likely have to deal with the development of cataracts at some point in your life. Cataracts occur when the tissue in the lenses of your eyes start becoming more opaque.

This blocks light from passing through to your retina. The result is a worsening vision until total blindness takes over. Fortunately, this problem can be easily solved with cataract surgery.

One thing that has trended ever more popular is the use of lasers in eye surgery. Using lasers provides precision and accuracy that the human hand cannot do.

Keep reading to learn what the advantages are of having laser cataract surgery!

How Cataract Surgery Works

Cataract surgery involves removing the lens of the eye. The lens of the eye is located behind the pupil inside the eye.

During the procedure, your eyes are first numbed with a topical anesthetic. Next, your surgeon will create an opening in the cornea.

How this is done is the difference between traditional and laser-assisted cataract surgery. In traditional cataract surgery, a scalpel cuts the tissue.

During laser cataract surgery, a laser is, expectedly, used in laser-assisted cataract surgery. Laser-assisted surgeries also have the added benefit of using computers to map out the surface of your eye to direct the laser. This leads to more efficient and precise results for patients.

After creating the opening, a probe is then inserted into the eye. It then goes through the opening and gets pushed behind the pupil into the capsule that holds the lens.

This probe is capable of emitting high-frequency sound that causes the cloudy lens to break apart. These much smaller pieces of cataract are then easily suctioned from the eye.

After clearing the capsule, a small device called an IOL is inserted into the empty opening. This IOL, or intraocular lens, allows the patient to see after the surgery is over.

The IOL then acts as a replacement lens. It focuses light on the retina while also remaining clear. IOLs come in many different varieties.

Selecting the right one for your lifestyle is very important. Your IOL choice is one of many things you will discuss with us at the Laser Eye Center in Huntsville, AL.

The Comparison

Both laser-assisted cataract surgery and traditional cataract surgery are safe and reliable procedures. Both have low instances of serious complications, and both can provide outstanding outcomes.

But laser-assisted cataract surgery does work faster. It also still manages to be more consistent and accurate than traditional cataract surgery.

Recovering from cataract surgery, in either case, will take some time. It may be several months before you are able to complete your everyday tasks again.

As you continue recovering, you will be able to add more and more things into your routine. The best part, of course, is that your vision improves and you can see clearly again!

There’s no reason to suffer from the symptoms of cataracts any longer. Why not find out if it’s time for cataract surgery?

Come into the Laser Eye Center in Huntsville, AL to schedule a cataract screening and find out how we can help you recover from cataracts!