Cataract Surgery

What are cataracts?

Cataracts are part of the natural aging process.  They can also come from injuries to the eye, genetic disposition, medications and some diseases.

Cataracts are the clouding of the normally clear lens in the eyes.  The lens focuses light rays on the back of the eye to produce a sharp image of what we see.  When the lens becomes cloudy, as with cataracts, the light rays cannot pass through it easily and the image becomes
blurry.

How are cataracts treated?

There are no medications, eye-drops, exercises or glasses that will make cataracts disappear after they have formed, and if vision is only slightly blurry, no treatment may be necessary at this stage.  Surgery is however the only way to remove cataracts and if the small incision technique is used then the post-operative period is usually shortened.

Cataract surgery has changed dramatically over the past decade, principally as a result of small incision surgery and foldable intra-ocular lenses.

Until now, modern cataract surgery involved removing the cataract through a surgical incision using ultrasound.  However, with further advancements in technology and refinement of the procedure, laser cataract surgery is now available in Queensland at, but only at, Eye-Tech Day Surgeries and North Queensland Day Surgeries.  The new laser procedure is called PHACOLASE and it can now be used in the original cataract operation, offering patients great benefits.

How does PHACOLASE differ to previous techniques?

• Fewer side effects
  The PHACOLASE is a smoother and more refined process.  Consequently, there are strongly reduced thermal effects and fewer ‘good' cells are lost.  Unlike some previous techniques, the PHACOLASE has no risk of corneal burning.

• Minimal energy dissipation to surrounding tissues and incision area
  The PHACOLASE has key benefits for the patient regarding its energy build-up.  It essentially produces no heat when the laser energy is being delivered.  As a direct result of this main difference with the PHACOLASE, it is virtually impossible to produce corneal burns.  Other benefits are that there is also more efficient fragmentation, the handpiece does not heat up, and no thermal injury can occur to the cornea (front of the eye).

• Small tip
  Due to the small diameter of the PHACOLASE's handpiece and the fact that it uses laser, there is the possibility of more rapid optical rehabilitation.  As well, the small tip ensures easy and accurate control the ablation process.

How is the cataract surgery performed?

Eighty percent of cataract surgery in Queensland is performed in day surgeries such as EYE-TECH Day Surgeries and North Queensland Day Surgical Centre.

Local anaesthetics, in the form of drops or injection, anaesthetise the eye.  The patient's comfort is also ensured with a relaxant provided.  Full anaesthetic monitoring is carried out on all patients prior to the procedure, during the procedure and in the recovery stages.

A small incision is made in the front of the eye.  The laser is then used to break up and suction out the cloudy lens from the eye.

An artificial intra-ocular lens implant will be placed inside the eye to replace the cloudy natural lens that was removed.  The incision is then closed.

A single stitch may be used, depending on your surgeon's preferences.

Will laser cataract surgery improve my vision?

Over 95% of cataract surgeries improve vision.  This high success rate has also been replicated with the PHACOLASE.  As with all medical procedures, a small number of patients may have problems.  Predisposed ocular conditions can sometimes affect surgery outcomes.

Pre-existing conditions and complications that your ophthalmologist will discuss with you include:

• Aged-related macular degeneration
• Glaucoma
• Astigmatism
• Infections

For further information, call your ophthalmologist or contact the information hotline:

Brisbane (07) 3832 2100
(outside metropolitan area) 1800 652 065
Townsville North Queensland 1800 807 363