Laser Eye Surgery After Cataracts

During cataract surgery the cloudy lens inside the eye is removed and replaced with a clear artificial lens implant.

Laser eye surgery after cataracts.

Your eye surgeon will use a state of the art femtosecond laser to easily fragment and break up the cataract rather than using traditional phacoemulsification which uses ultrasonic energy to break up the natural lens. Cataract surgery has been found to amplify a pre existing dry eye condition as well as induce it in patients who did not have dry eyes prior to the procedure. As with manual surgery the doctor will place an artificial intraocular lens into the eye and seal the incision so no stitches are needed. Laser assisted cataract surgery is a 100 blade free approach that is more precise than any other cataract surgery technique.

A simple laser procedure called a posterior capsulotomy usually can clear up the cloudiness and restore sharp vision. The vision problems caused by pco can make it seem as though your cataract has returned but it can be easily treated with a quick painless outpatient laser procedure to make vision clear again. While dry eyes can be a nuisance they generally last only a month or so after surgery and can be easily treated with artificial tears eyedrops. To fix it you need a procedure called yag laser capsulotomy.

A relatively common complication of cataract surgery that usually can be treated easily is posterior capsular opacification pco which can cause your vision to become cloudy months or years after cataract removal. The laser then softens the protein clumps after which the ultrasound probe the kind used in traditional surgery is used to further break down the cataracts so they can be suctioned out of the eye. As with cataract surgery it is important to weigh the risks and possible benefits of laser capsulotomy before deciding to have the surgery. Certain lenses used in the surgery to remove the cataract may lower this risk and the need for laser surgery later.

The cataract is surrounded by a clear cellophane like wrapping. The laser may be useful when correcting for astigmatism aligning an astigmatism correcting intraocular lens or softening a dense cataract. During laser assisted cataract surgery your doctor typically uses the laser to make all incisions and to soften the cataract for removal by ultrasound phacoemulsification. During cataract surgery the front cellophane wrapping is removed.

There is no way to know who will get clouding in the back of the eye after cataract surgery. It usually happens eventually after cataract surgery. The laser pretreatment adds about five to seven minutes to the usual 10 to 15 minute cataract surgery culbertson says. The study involved the most common types of cataracts those graded 1 4.