Laser vs. Manual Cataract Surgery

With recent technology advancements in cataract surgery, surgeons now have options that allow patients to make informed decisions on how their cataracts will be removed. One such advancement has been the introduction of laser refractive cataract surgery with the LenSx Laser. The LenSx Laser is designed to bring a new level of accuracy and reproducibility to refractive cataract surgery. By automating some of the most challenging steps of cataract surgery, the LenSx Laser allows the surgeon to create precise repeatable incisions using an image-guided laser. Cataract patients now have the following two options: standard cataract surgery or laser refractive cataract surgery. Cataract surgery involves corneal incisions, capsulorhexis, a circular hole in the capsular bag, lens fragmentation, phacoemulsification, intraocular lens insertion, and incision closure. The LenSx Laser can assist with some of the most challenging steps. Standard cataract surgery starts with the creation of an incision through the cornea, utilizing a scalpel in order to allow the surgeon access to the cataract. LenSx provides customizable laser precision and reproducibility in the creation of the incision. Capsulorhexis is the medical term used to describe the removal of the outer layer of the lens in order to allow the surgeon access to removing the cataract. This is the single most important step in your visual outcome. In standard cataract surgery, this step is performed by the surgeon manually creating a circular opening with a handheld instrument. LenSx Laser offers your surgeon laser precision to create the circular opening and allows the lens placed to have the best possible effective lens position. This allows the patient to experience the most predictable postoperative visual results. Standard cataract surgery requires a phacoemulsification machine to segment and remove the content of the cataract. The goal of your surgeon is to reduce the amount of phaco energy used to remove your cataract. The LenSx Laser performs lens fragmentation, creating easily dissected segments for efficient removal with little or no phaco power. With the laser pulses utilized, the LenSx Laser provides the surgeon 43% reduction in phaco power and 51% reduction in phaco time compared to the standard cataract procedure. LenSx Laser refractive cataract surgery offers a new level of precision and reproducibility in ophthalmic surgery.