How Cataract Surgery Works
Modern Small Incision
Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery consists of several steps:
✓ The eye is numbed with anaesthetic eye drops
✓ Incisions are made in the cornea
✓ The cataract is removed
✓ An intraocular lens is implanted
✓ The incision is sealed
Most of our patients at The Cataract Clinic only require anaesthetic drops for their surgery. They do not have to wear a patch over their eyes after surgery.
Others may still require an anaesthetic injection for their procedure and will require a patch over their eye until the following morning.
After examining you, the anaesthetist will decide what type of anaesthesia you need.
A Smaller, Safer Incision - Modern cataract surgey no longer requires a large incision.
Previously, surgeons had to make an incision in the eye equal to the size of the crystalline lens or implant, often
7.0-10.0mm long.
Modern technology (equipment and lenses) has made it possible for the entire cataract procedure to be performed through micro incisions, 1.0- 2.5 mm long.
The Benefits Of These Smaller Incisions Are:
Less trauma to the eye
No need for stitches to close the incisions, which are self-sealing
Faster healing time
Phacoemulsification
One reason such small incisions are possible is because of a technology called phacoemulsification, which uses an ultrasonic tip, which is inserted through these microincisions to liquefy the often hard cataractous lens. The liquefied lens can then be suctioned out through the same micro-incision.
A large incision is not necessary as the cataract is not removed in one large piece as was performed before modern small incision surgery.
In addition, the incision does not need to be large to admit the intraocular lens implant.
Modern lens implants are made of flexible material that allows the lens to be folded and injected into the eye through these microincisions.
The implanted lens then unfolds inside the eye and is positioned in place.
