Around 100 million people suffer from cataracts and this number is projected to be doubled in the next 20 years. A cataract is a condition caused by the clouding of the natural intraocular crystalline lens and may cause distance vision impairment or blindness if left untreated. However, treatments, specifically, laser cataract surgery can save individuals from this vision impairment, if caught early.
In this context, we have curated a blog that will give a comprehensive idea of types of laser cataract surgery and assist you in choosing the right one.
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A] What Is Laser Cataract Surgery?
Laser cataract surgery is an advanced surgical procedure that removes the cloudy lens from the patient’s eye and implants an artificial IOL lens instead. In this highly accurate surgical procedure, laser energy is used to scramble cloudy cataracts into tiny pieces and remove them using ultrasound waves.
Traditional cataract surgery is a prominent option for removing cataracts from one’s eye using conventional medical instruments. In this process, a cataract surgeon makes a small incision to enter the eye’s capsule using a scalpel. Furthermore, a circular incision is made over the cloudy lens for scrambling and eliminating cataracts using ultrasound waves. An artificial IOL lens is implanted instead of a cloudy lens to offer a cataract-free vision to the patient. However, traditional cataract surgery requires an expert and highly experienced surgeon to perform this surgical procedure accurately.
B] Exploring The Different Types Of Laser Cataract Surgery
1. Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS)
Femto laser cataract surgery is a highly precise and accurate cataract surgery type. It uses an advanced laser system to generate a high-repetition-rate and decreased energy pulses to scramble cataracts. The process eliminates the chances of destroying unintended tissues apart from the surgical area.
2. LenSx Laser System
It is one of the oldest and most commonly performed laser cataract-removal surgery, renowned for its high accuracy and precision. The painlessness and low incidence of error make laser-assisted cataract surgery a highly successful, widely chosen, and extremely safe option around the globe. It uses advanced technology such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) to offer high-resolution images.
3. Catalys Precision Laser System
Catalys precision laser system is one of the most stable and convenient cataract laser surgery procedures. It is designed to deliver painless incisions and excellent fragmentation of cataracts, offering a precise and safe treatment option for cataract removal. Catalys precision laser system is equipped with high-resolution optical coherence tomography imaging and guidance technology that aids in obtaining accurate information about crystalline lenses to get exceptional outcomes.
4. LensAR Laser System
LensAR uses an advanced augmented reality imaging system to offer a crystal clear image of the lens anterior and aids in planning the tailored reconstructional plan that suits the patient. The AR system allows for obtaining every detail the surgeon needs to perform femtosecond laser cataract-removal surgery.
5. Victus Femtosecond Laser Platform
Victus Femtosecond Laser Platform aims to offer a leading solution for cataract and corneal transplant under a single platform. Due to its precisional capabilities and control, it facilitates a single window platform for performing capsulotomies, fragmentation and corneal incisions.
6. Laser-Assisted Corneal Relaxing Incisions (LRI)
Limbal relaxing incisions (LRI) is a partial thickness incision used to treat corneal astigmatism. The laser-assisted device is used to make a small and arch-shaped incision on the limbus to relax the corneal curvature.
7. ReLACS (Refractive Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery)
ReLACS is an OCT-guided and computer-controlled laser cataract surgery offering precise cuts that are hard to obtain manually. The refractive laser cataract eye surgery is designed to obtain exceptional visual outcomes without experiencing any pain.
C] Considerations for Choosing Laser Cataract Surgery
1. Patient Factors
The patient’s age and overall health should be a primary consideration when opting for laser treatment for cataracts. Aged patients may have some risks or benefits associated with laser surgery. Booking a consultation with an expert eye surgeon could be a better option to discuss the consequences related to age and health complexity. However, laser-based cataract surgery may play a prominent role in eliminating severe cataracts.
2. Surgeon Expertise
The expertise and experience of an eye surgeon must be one of the top considerations to obtain accurate and successful outcomes. Laser cataract surgery requires specialised training and skill. Experienced surgeons are equipped to handle complications and trained to achieve optimal outcomes. Patients should look for board-certified and award-winning opht
