What Is a Cataract
A cataract is a thickening of the eye's lens that clouds vision over time. As light flow to the retina becomes restricted, eyesight becomes blurred and dim — similar to looking through a foggy window. The condition can eventually cause total vision loss, though cataract surgery has a 98% success rate for vision improvement.
Traditional Cataract Surgery
The original procedure uses a diamond blade to create a small corneal incision. A surgeon inserts an ultrasound probe to soften the cataract for removal, then places an intraocular lens (IOL) on the remaining lens capsule to restore light passage to the retina.
Laser Cataract Surgery
Laser technology provides greater precision during initial incisions. Using optical coherence tomography, a 3D eye image enables the laser to create openings at precisely correct depth and length, improving corneal self-healing success rates.
A femtosecond laser performs the anterior capsulotomy, accessing the cataract while creating space for the new lens. The laser breaks down the cataract more gently, requiring less ultrasound energy and reducing risks of burning or astigmatism.
What to Expect
The 15- to 20-minute procedure is performed under local anesthesia. It's painless, though patients may experience slight tugging or pressure. Most patients leave within an hour and recover within days. Follow-ups occur within days and over months to ensure proper healing.
Risks
The most common complication is posterior capsule opacification (PCO), where lens capsule cells regrow slightly, causing blurriness and light sensitivity. This is not a new cataract; cataracts do not grow back. PCO affects about 20% of laser cataract surgery patients and can be corrected with Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy.