Robotic cataract surgery is an advanced cataract surgery. In this type of cataract surgery, a femtosecond laser is used to perform cataract surgery hence this procedure is called Femtosecond Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS).. Femtosecond laser is used in eye surgeries in view of its ultrafast pulses, requiring less energy and reduced destruction of surrounding tissues. Accuracy and precision of surgery is also high with femtosecond lasers. It takes only five minutes for Robotic cataract surgery to incise the cornea, open the lens capsule, and disintegrate the lens.
What is traditional cataract surgery?
A cataract is an eye condition in which the crystalline lens of the eye gets cloudy and blurs your vision partially or fully. To cure this condition surgeons perform cataract surgery to bring back sharp vision. Under traditional surgery, the surgeon cuts the cornea, opens the bag in which the clouded lens lies, and replaces it with an artificial lens.
Traditional cataract surgeries are called Small Incision Cataract Surgery and Phacoemulsification. All the surgery actions are performed manually by the surgeon except the removal of the eye lens. It is done by PhacoMachine, which uses ultrasonic energy to liquefy the lens.
When do you need surgery?
Usually, doctors advise you to get the surgery done if the cataract is adversely affecting your vision and life. Here are some symptoms to see if you need surgery:
- Daily vision problem
- Poor night vision
- Color seems dull
- Gets difficult to drive at night
- Glare from headlights
- Frequent changes in the number of eyeglasses
- Double vision
Here are some of the questions you need to answer before deciding to get Robotic cataract surgery done-
- When to get the surgery done?
First doctor will examine your vision for which you might have to recognize symbols or letters to know your vision sharpness. Doctors identify cataracts with the help of slit lamps and check the eyes thoroughly to rule out glaucoma, retinal degeneration, or any other eye disorder.
You can also postpone the surgery if the cataract isn’t giving you problems in daily life. Doctors might suggest surgery quickly if you have any other eye disorder because cataract can meddle with other eye conditions and makes it difficult to get exact treatment.
- Which procedure to follow?
If both eyes are diagnosed with cataracts then the doctor will advise you few scans to calculate the power of the replacement lens and then propose to first treat the eye with dense cataract. If your vision improves extensively then you can forgo other eye surgery. It is observed that people get more benefits from both eye operations.
If a person is either far-sighted or near-sighted and has a cataract condition in both eyes, then he needs to have both the surgery done within one month.
- Which type of replacement lens to get fixed?
Replacement of clouded lenses is the only cure for cataracts. Advanced technology has made the surgery more efficient and less time-consuming i.e. within 15 minutes. You just need to choose the right replacement lens for your eyes.
Here are some options –
- Fixed-focus Monofocal lenses
These lenses are good for distant vision and you will need spectacles for near vision . You can also go for monovision. Under this, fixed-focus mono-focal lenses are fitted, but one eye has a near-vision lens and the other eye has a far-vision lens.
- Accommodative Monofocal lenses
These lenses automatically change from far to near (and vice versa) in response to ciliary muscle movement in the eyes. Far and middle visions are visible properly but a near vision becomes difficult. People need to wear glasses.
- Toric lenses
These lenses are recommended to astigmatism patients mostly because toric lenses give a focused vision at a particular distance. This lens corrects the astigmatism of a person and you will need spectacles for near vision.
Also Read: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ORBITAL CELLULITIS?
- Multifocal lenses
The optics of these lenses are made in such a way that all three vision (i.e. distance, near and intermediate ranges will be seen clearly through these lenses. Multifocal lenses are advised to the persons who want to be completely independent of spectacles after cataract surgery.
If you’re looking for replacement of clouded lenses visit PVRI – the best eye hospital in Hyderabad!
Though traditional cataract surgery still exists, here are some benefits of opting for Robotic cataract surgery instead of the former-
- The risk of poor quality incision and capsular tear running out of control is reduced to a great extent
- Lens placement and alignment are calculative and precise
- Laser-assisted vision correction is also possible
- Recovery time is reduced to a great extent.
Robotic cataract surgery is an advanced technology that makes the treatment more precise and accurate without postoperative complications. . It has also lessened the operating time and recovery time for a person. If you’re looking to get surgery done, visit PVRI – the best eye hospital in Hyderabad!