Serving Birmingham and All Surrounding Cities for 20+ Years.
Cataracts affect millions of Americans each year, and as the leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of fifty, it’s no wonder new advances in cataract surgery are breaking through on a regular basis. The most recent development? Laser technology—the new-and-improved version of the traditional hand-and-knife technique of past decades. With laser surgery comes the benefit of a bladeless procedure and the use of a highly customized eye map for greater accuracy.
A cataract is the thickening of the eye’s lens. Overtime, this “clouding” begins to restrict the light flow to the retina, causing eyesight to become blurred and dim, with the visual acuity similar to someone looking through a foggy window. Eventually, if no action is taken, total vision loss will occur. Though this condition is chronic and arguably inevitable, cataract surgery is a safe and effective solution, with a 98% success rate of improved vision in patients.
Originally, the procedure to remove a cataract involved using a diamond blade to make a small incision in the cornea. The surgeon would then insert a small, ultrasound wave-emitting probe to soften the cataract enough to be suctioned out. An intraocular lens (IOL) would be inserted onto the lens capsule, allowing light to once again safely pass through to the retina. Note: Traditional cataract surgery remains a common and modern procedure.
Replacing traditional incision instruments with a laser allows for increased accuracy. Through optical coherence tomography, a 3D image of the eye is captured, enabling the laser to incise at precisely the correct depth and length. This precision also allows for a greater degree of success when the cornea self-heals after surgery.
Next, the front portion of the capsule lens is removed via "anterior capsulotomy" performed with a femtosecond laser. This creates space for the new lens. The laser then breaks down the cataract, a gentler process requiring less ultrasound energy, which decreases the chance of distortion or acquired astigmatism.
Using 3D image technology, your surgeon creates a detailed map of your eye to assess corneal thickness and anterior chamber depth. On the day of surgery, your eye area will be numbed and stabilized in a laser platform.
During the 15- to 20-minute procedure, the surgeon uses the 3D maps for precision. While you are awake, you are sedated for relaxation; you may feel slight pressure, but the procedure is not painful.
This is an outpatient procedure. Most patients leave within an hour. You may feel slight discomfort or blurred vision for a few days. It is critical to avoid rubbing your eyes or performing strenuous tasks during the healing phase.
Costs vary based on eye-correction options and insurance coverage. We recommend consulting both our office and your insurance provider to determine the specific benefits and out-of-pocket responsibilities for your plan.
Complications are low-risk. The most common is Posterior Capsule Opacification (PCO), a slight thickening of the lens capsule. This is not a new cataract and can be easily corrected with a quick Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy.
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James W. Webb, O.D.
Eyemart Express in the Hoover Grove
Heather M. Webb, OD
Alabaster Walmart Vision Center
