At Advanced Lasik in Midtown East, New York City, and Duarte, and Long Beach, California, ophthalmologist Randa Garrana, MD, recommends the CATALYS™ Precision Laser System for our patients requiring cataract care.
Laser cataract surgery is a more precise, refined, and noninvasive way to handle the most demanding steps of the procedure.
In this month’s blog, Dr. Garrana answers some of the top questions people ask about laser cataract surgery, including how the process differs from conventional cataract surgery — which is already one of the safest and most frequent surgeries performed around the world.
Your eyes include fine-focusing elements to assure you have sharp eyesight. These are the lenses, which sit behind the pupil and iris in each eye, changing shape to bend light so that images form sharply on your retina.
As you age, the proteins inside the lens begin to gradually break down in a process that lasts for years. These proteins form clumps which can block or scatter light, rather than allowing it to pass to the retina.
With sufficient deterioration, your overall vision is affected. The lenses take on a cloudy, milky appearance and, without treatment, can eventually cause blindness as your eyes are unable to create visual information for your brain to interpret.
A scanning device collects information about your eye, sending it to a computer that develops the programming necessary for laser treatment. The laser precisely cuts the incisions necessary in the affected eye to access the lens capsule and remove the cloudy lens tissue.
These incisions are the most technically demanding part of cataract surgery. After we remove the damaged lens, you’re fitted with an artificial lens.
Usually, both eyes develop cataracts, but only one eye is treated at a time. The other eye will be treated a few weeks later, after the first eye has fully healed — and its vision has been restored.
Usually, your need for corrective lenses after cataract surgery is greatly reduced. If you also have refractive errors in your vision, we may be able to treat cataracts and vision correction at the same time.
The impact of cataract surgery is usually small. You’re still able to perform normal daily tasks, provided they aren’t too strenuous. You should be able to take care of yourself and your home without issue. We discuss any unique needs your case may present, and Dr. Garrana will let you know when it’s safe to resume driving.
To learn more about cataract surgery with the CATALYS laser system, schedule a visit at your nearest Advanced Lasik office today: We have one East Coast office in Midtown East, New York City, and two West Coast offices in Duarte and Long Beach, California.
