Cataract Removal ? Laser Or Traditional Surgery

Is your vision cloudy? Have you been diagnosed with cataracts?

Cataracts make it difficult to see things clearly and can interfere with normal activities such as reading and driving.

A cataract is the clouding of your eye's natural lens that is located right behind your pupil. When they first develop cataracts are mild. However, they worsen over time and will eventually create disturbances in vision.

Are you considering cataract removal surgery? Thinking whether traditional cataract surgery is for you? Are you wondering if laser cataract surgery is your best choice?

A first step in deciding is to ask your ophthalmologist for information.

The Options: In recent years laser technology has become a choice for performing cataract removal surgery. Nonetheless, traditional cataract surgery is very effective with super predictable outcomes.Such success is highly dependent on the surgeon”s skill and experience.

Cataract Surgery: Your eyes natural lens are surrounded by a very thin, clear capsule. During surgery, a corneal incision to remove the front portion of the capsule is necessary to gain access to a cataract.This is followed by lens fragmentation and artificial man-made lens implantation (IOL).

The Conventional Procedure: In traditional cataract surgery, under local anaesthesia, the surgeon creates a small opening in the side of the cornea.The incision allows the surgeon to gain access to the interior of the eye to break up and remove the cataract.

An inserted ultrasound devise send vibrations into the eye to break the lens into small pieces; the fragments are then removed by suction. To replace the natural cloudy lens an intraocular lens (IOL) is inserted and implanted. IOL, positioning is a significant factor in determining final visual outcomes.

The corneal incision is made in a special way so it will self-seal when surgery is complete without any need for stitches.Traditional cataract surgery is one of the most frequently performed surgeries. It is also one of the safest, effective and successful surgeries.

The Laser Procedure: On the other hand, laser cataract surgery is computer-guided. The surgeon can create a precise corneal incision with exactly required parameters using a sophisticated 3-D image of the eye called optical coherence tomography (OCT).

The laser softens the cataract as it breaks it up and divides it into smaller softer pieces. Making the cataract removal procedure easier, laser surgery reduces the risk of capsule breakage

Postoperatively there appears to be less swelling in the cornea and retina than with traditional cataract surgery. Laser cataract surgery has shown excellent results for accurate self-sealing corneal incisions. A custom-guided laser is uniquely programmed for the most precise treatment on each individual.

Restoring Clearer Views: The majority of cataract surgeries are completely successful whether it is the conventional or laser procedure. Complications are rare with traditional cataract surgery but, there are always risks with any surgery.

Laser cataract surgery is promoted as the surgical approach that offers precision, accuracy, reduced risks, new levels of safety and improved visual outcomes. However, it is important to put new technologies into proper perspective this procedure does not come without risks.