Cataract Surgery Options
You may wonder what to expect before and after cataract surgery. Our team is here to answer all of your questions to help make your procedure go as smoothly as possible. You can ask any questions you have when you first meet with your surgeon. You can also contact the doctor later, if you think of additional questions. We are here to help.
There are several procedures for cataract removal and several types of lenses we can use. While insurance companies usually cover cataract surgery, laser-assisted cataract surgery and premium intraocular lenses (IOLs) will require you to cover out-of-pocket costs. Your surgeon will talk to you about the different options and pick the best type for you, depending on many factors, including your eye health, the thickness of the cataract, your preferences, and your finances. Most people go home the same day and recover quickly. We perform the following cataract surgeries:
Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS)
This approach uses the latest technology to precisely and safely remove cataracts while also treating blurry vision (astigmatism). Before this procedure, we use the femtosecond laser to make precise 3D maps of your eye. This helps us develop a personalized treatment plan. Then, we use a computer-guided laser to perform and consolidate many of the steps involved in cataract extraction. The laser creates precise incisions. A circular opening in the lens capsule lets us access and gently remove the cataract. Not only is this approach more precise than traditional handheld instruments, but it is also faster. We can tailor the FLACS procedure to your eye’s anatomy for maximum vision improvement.
With this procedure, we can also use optiwave refractive analysis to be even more precise. This additional step allows us to check mid-surgery that the IOL is properly placed. This greatly increases your chances of successful surgery and reduces your need for glasses and contact lenses.
Standard Cataract Surgery
The most common method of cataract surgery is a small-incision approach. This is also called phacoemulsification (or just phaco). After making a small incision in the clear cornea, the surgeon uses a computerized tool with a titanium or steel tip to break up the cataract into tiny fragments with ultrasonic energy. The broken pieces of the cataract are suctioned out of the eye through the instrument’s hollow tubing.
Large Incision Cataract Surgery/Extracapsular Cataract Extraction
Occasionally, surgeons perform an older cataract surgery technique called extracapsular cataract extraction. In this procedure, the surgeon makes a larger incision through the cornea limbus to remove the lens in one piece. This leaves the back part of the capsule intact, which lets us implant an intraocular lens (IOL).
miLOOP Assisted
NYEE was the first hospital in the Northeast to offer miLOOP to treat cataracts. miLOOP is a pen-like device for high-precision, non-thermal, minimally invasive cataract surgery. It is especially useful if you have very dense cataracts. It allows the surgeon to break up the cataract manually, without heat.
Laser Treatment After Cataract Surgery
Sometimes patients develop scar tissue after cataract surgery. This can cause cloudy vision. We can fix this with a laser treatment known as a YAG capsulotomy.