What are the Benefits of Laser Cataract Surgery?

Did you know that 80% of learning is made possible because of your eyes? Besides learning, your eyes have an essential job in assisting you in almost every daily function, from getting dressed to eating.

Unfortunately, cataracts — which is a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy — affects more than 24.4 million people in the United States. The good news is that cataracts can be treated with cataract surgery.

At Omphroy Eye Care, located in Aiea, Hawaii, Luis Omphroy, MD, provides laser cataract surgery, a revolutionary treatment that surpasses what traditional cataract surgery can do. In this blog, Dr. Omphroy explains what laser cataract surgery is and some of its many benefits.

Why cataracts occur

The lens of the eye is normally clear, but if the lens gets cloudy, it’s called a cataract. Those most at risk of developing this condition are people over age 60. It’s not completely understood why cataracts occur, but experts believe the sun’s ultraviolet rays or lifestyle habits may play a part.

Some symptoms of cataracts include:

Cloudy vision
Changes in how you see color
Trouble with night vision
Double vision
Blurred vision, even with eyeglasses or contacts

Cataracts usually develop slowly and are the leading cause of blindness.

Benefits of laser cataract surgery

Living a healthy lifestyle and protecting your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet light may help slow the progression of cataracts. However, while doing these things may put off surgery, they cannot cure the condition. The only way to remove a cataract is by undergoing cataract surgery.

There are basically two options when it comes to cataract surgery: traditional and laser cataract surgery. While traditional surgery uses a blade, laser surgery uses light technology to extract the clouded lens and replace it with an artificial lens. Here are some of the benefits of laser cataract surgery.

Better vision correction

Dr. Omphroy uses the CATALYS™ Precision Laser System and the WHITESTAR SIGNATURE® PRO system to give you the best results for cataract surgery. These systems allow for precise eye mapping and custom treatment.

The precision of a laser is especially useful in placing a multifocal lens to help address close-up and far-sighted vision. It’s also ideal for placing a toric lens to help improve astigmatism. The CATALYS system allows Dr. Omphroy to make incisions with total precision while leaving the surrounding areas unharmed.

For these reasons, patients who undergo laser cataract surgery often have better vision correction than those who undergo traditional surgery.

More precise lens placement

In traditional cataract surgery, a surgeon has to manually place an intraocular lens (IOL). This can leave room for error even with the most skilled surgeon. With laser cataract surgery, more precise incisions are made, and therefore the IOL lens can be placed more accurately.

The CATALYS laser enables Dr. Omphroy to analyze your eye’s lens and send the results to a computer. Critical information, such as depth, location, and size of the cataract, can be analyzed. This allows Dr. Omphroy to better decide which IOL lens to use and allows for a more accurate placement.

Less invasive

There are no blades or stitches with laser cataract surgery. This makes it a more comfortable procedure and a safer option for patients who undergo cataract surgery.

Easier recovery

Common side effects with traditional surgery include soreness, an itchy eye, and blurry vision for several days. Because laser cataract surgery uses no blades, many patients feel little to no pain after treatment. With less trauma imposed on the eye, this can allow for a smoother, shorter recovery.

Your eyes are very important parts of your body. Laser cataract surgery can provide for a safer alternative and a more precise approach. If you have a cataract and want to see if laser cataract surgery can help you, book an appointment over the phone with Omphroy Eye Care today.