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A cataract is the clouding of the eye's natural lens. As a normal part of aging, the eye's natural lens starts to lose its flexibility and starts crystallizing, which causes impaired vision. With cataract surgery, a cataract surgeon is able to create a corneal incision and then insert a miniature ultrasound tube to remove the crystallized natural lens. Through the same incision, the cataract surgeon will then insert a new artificial lens that helps restore the patient's vision. The type of artificial lenses may vary based on the needs and conditions of each patient. Proper matching of the power of the artificial lens to the patient's eye can reduce or eliminate his/her needs for glasses after surgery.
The Alcon LenSx laser and ORA surgery technique reduces the need for glasses in cataract patients.
Laser cataract surgery with the LenSx laser differs from the traditional cataract surgery in that all the incisions are made using a precise laser guided by a real-time computer imaging system. With traditional cataract surgery, micro incisions are created using a bladed tool and a needle.
With laser refractive cataract surgery, the blades and needle are replaced with femtosecond laser technology. This means all the incisions are made inside the eye, including a precise circular opening in the front layer of the lens and accurate curve incisions on the cornea to correct any astigmatism (astigmatism is responsible for the blurred focus requiring glasses following surgery). The laser also helps to break up the cloudy lens prior to the ultrasound, allowing the removal of the cataract and the insertion of a new lens. The benefits of this technology are precision, safety, and accuracy of target refractive outcomes to reduce the need for glasses following cataract surgery.
In addition, utilizing a device by WaveTec called the ORA, surgery is even more precise, typically improving the refractive outcomes target by 10-15 percent. The ORA measures the eye's focusing power during cataract surgery so that the surgeon knows the results instantly. Then, adjustments can be made during, instead of after, surgery. The ORA is especially helpful in treating patients with astigmatism and cataract patients with previous LASIK surgery.
Precision and accurate refractive outcomes help to reduce the need for glasses following cataract surgery. The combination of LenSx and ORA allows an experienced surgeon to further improve the refractive outcomes. More than 90 percent of patients can see well without glasses using the combination of these two technologies.
