Cataract Surgery: Phacoemulsification & beyond
Phacoemulsification is method of cataract surgery in which the eye's natural lens is removed using ultrasonic energy and replaced with an intraocular lens implant, or IOL.
A cataract clouds the lens of the eye causing vision loss that interferes with daily activities. Cataract surgery by phacoemulsification has become the accepted surgery in recent years.
Phacoemulsification surgery is performed with a small ultrasonic probe that is inserted into the eye via a two-to-three millimeter incision.
The procedures take between 15 to 45 minutes. In Phacoemulsification a very small incision (3.2 mm) is made into the clear part of the eye (Cornea) and the nucleus of the lens is converted in to a soft pulp using high frequency sound waves and sucked out. Then a foldable lens (IOL) is injected through the small incision and positioned into capsular bag.
The main advantages of this operation are early rehabilitation and decreased occurrence of astigmatism (cylindrical power in glasses). Non-foldable IOLs are not recommended as they necessitate enlarging the incision and thereby sacrificing the advantages of the small incision.
IOL is a lens made of a soft polymer (Silicone / Acrylic) and is implanted inside the eye in place of natural lens. The greatest advantage of IOL is a clear wide field of vision and the fact that the patient does not have to constantly wear thick glasses. However, glasses with low power may be still being required especially for reading distant and near small print.
The advantages of phacoemulsification
The advantage of cataract surgery by phacoemulsification is the insertion of the intraocular lens through a small incision, which is self-sealing. After the cataract surgery using phacoemulsification, the wound is more stable and the wound complications are minimized.
Benefits for patients
Suture-less cataract surgery by phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lenses makes its treatment very comfortable for the patients. The patients can resume their normal activity faster as compared to conventional extra capsular extraction (ECCE) cataract eye surgery using sutures.
The wound heals faster and more predictable and compared to conventional surgery less follow up visits for checkups are required. Because of the small incision, the use of sutures is not required, the cornea does not get distorted and risk of significant astigmatism is minimized.
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