Almost 75% of people will develop cataracts throughout their lives. Cataracts are groups of dead cells in the eye that accumulate in the crystalline lens, causing it to become cloudy. Over time, cataracts can increase in size and drastically reduce an individual’s vision. Thanks to modern advances in ophthalmology, cataract surgery is the most successfully practiced surgical procedure in the United States, with over 1.6 million operations each year. While the success rate is high, cataract surgery is still an extremely complicated and delicate procedure that takes precision and patience on the part of the doctor.

In cataract surgery, the crystalline lens that has developed cataracts is removed and replaced with a synthetic lens to improve an individual’s vision. In order to remove the crystalline lens, doctors have to make a small incision around the cornea and then create a round opening (called a capsulotomy) from which they can remove the old lens and insert the new intraocular implant. Once the incisions have healed, the patient will have near-perfect vision and will no longer need corrective lenses like eyeglasses or contacts. In the past, doctors have performed cataract surgery manually using a sharp blade and medical forceps. However, new technologies have become available that increase the doctor’s precision, simplify the process, and reduce the patient’s recovery time.

What is a Femtosecond Laser?

A femotecond is one quadrillionth of a second, which is the rate at which the femtosecond laser emits optical pulses. The laser tightly focuses these pulses to allow for extremely precise and controllable incisions. This precision means that the femtosecond laser can create a perfectly circular hole in the lens capsule. Rather than slice into the eye like a blade, the femtosecond laser allows doctors to separate tissue by ablating and cleaving it. So, once the laser makes the initial incisions, the damaged lens can be removed using ultrasound and the doctor can implant the intraocular lens with higher accuracy. The physical laser is compact in size and can be transferred relatively easily from room to room.

Advantages of the Femtosecond Laser

During the operation the laser allows doctors to have three-dimensional control over their incisions. This means the precision of their incisions increases dramatically and allows for superior control of the depth to which their incisions reach. This type of control is impossible with manual procedures that utilize surgical blades because even the most skilled surgeons do not have the required dexterity to perform such elaborate incisions.

Because cataract surgery using a femtosecond laser is a bladeless operation, doctors can also be more consistent in their surgeries, increase the speed at which they operate, and help the patient experience a much shorter recovery period. The laser’s accuracy allows for smaller incisions, meaning there is a much smaller chance of infection or complication after the surgery has been completed. Plus, most lasers come equipped with pressure sensors that increase the laser’s stability and accuracy, creating a more comfortable experience for the patient.

Finding a Surgery Center with a Femtosecond Laser

Femtosecond lasers are already in place for LASIK (Laser IN-Situ Keratomileusis) refractive surgeries and are becoming more widely used throughout the United States. However, this innovative technology is extremely expensive, so not all surgery centers have a femtosecond laser in place. If you need cataract surgery and are interested in having your procedure done using a femtosecond laser, contact your local ambulatory surgery center and ask them about the technology they have in place for cataract surgery. Also, if your procedure is being covered by your insurance, make sure the surgery center takes your insurance plan so you don’t encounter any unexpected expenses.

Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Ms. Smith is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to innovative technologies.

Peg Smith is an experienced writer who offers advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to innovative technologies. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/laser-spine-institute-partners-with-marodyne-medical-to-offer-the-latest-in-low-intensity-vibration-science-2013-02-19

Author Bio: Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Ms. Smith is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to innovative technologies.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: innovative technologies