Laser Vs Phaco Cataract Surgery

Since its fda approval in 2010 femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery has been an option for surgeons a new method in their armamentarium along with the traditional manual phaco technique.

Laser vs phaco cataract surgery.

In laser cataract surgery less energy goes into the phacoemulsification process than with traditional cataract surgery this reduces the risk of complications such as damage to the capsule bleeding or retinal detachment. Using a femtosecond laser to perform cataract surgery increases the safety and efficacy of cataract removal and delivers more reliable and stable postoperative refractive outcomes compared to standard phacoemulsification he said. Femto laser cataract surgery r esearchers from the bascom palmer eye institute in miami conducted a retrospective case series to compare the outcomes in eyes with fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy after standard phacoemulsification with those undergoing femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery. This procedure consists of the manual opening of the crystalline lens anterior capsule capsulorhexis with forceps removal of the opacified lens using ultrasound and implantation of an intraocular lens iol in the remaining capsular envelope to restore visual function.

Laser cataract surgery is not covered by most insurance plans. It is recognized as being safe and effective. Laser incision has been found to seal better than an incision made with a blade which results in better healing. Nowadays phacoemulsification cataract surgery pcs is the standard of care.

A review of laser assisted versus traditional phacoemulsification cataract surgery. 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. Traditional cataract surgery is performed by creating a small incision using a scalpel in the side of the cornea by hand. It costs more than traditional cataract surgery as well.

The laser may be useful when correcting for astigmatism aligning an astigmatism correcting intraocular lens or softening a dense cataract. And many ophthalmologists prefer laser cataract surgery over traditional cataract surgery as a pre treatment to soften cataracts. Femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery flacs leads to safer and more efficient cataract removal. Laser cataract surgery also called refractive laser assisted cataract surgery relacs is an advanced type of cataract surgery that uses femtosecond laser technology to bring a new level of precision and accuracy to specific steps in cataract surgery that traditionally have been performed with hand held surgical tools.

American academy of ophthalmology. Traditional cataract surgery vs. Initial evaluation of a femtosecond laser system in cataract surgery.