Comparing Laser and Traditional Cataract Surgery

Cataracts affect many millions worldwide and can lead to total blindness. This age-related disorder generally appears in one’s 40s and necessitates the removal of the eye’s natural lens. Yet this treatment is quick, safe, and vastly favorable to the alternative – if cataracts are left to their own devices, they will progressively steal one’s eyesight.

Fortunately, our advanced techniques and personalized treatment plans can help you achieve an optimal outcome and enjoy long-term ocular health and visual acuity. Contact us today at The Eye Center of Southern Indiana in Bloomington, IN, to learn more.

What are cataracts?

Cataracts are the most common cause of blindness worldwide due to their inevitable nature. While other ocular disorders can be prevented, cataracts are a consequence of the inescapable aging process that affects us all. Time causes a breakdown of tissues throughout the body, including the proteins in the lens of the eye. These proteins not only deteriorate, they also clump together, forming cloudy spots on the lens.

With light no longer able to easily pass through the lens and to the retina, those with cataracts begin gradually losing their vision. But we can efficiently correct this degradation through two time-tested techniques, traditional and laser cataract surgery.

Comparing laser and traditional cataract surgery

For various reasons, not all patients with cataracts are good candidates for laser cataract surgery. However, the traditional version of the procedure is just as effective for restoring your vision and eye health. Very few others have been performed as often, and the techniques have been long-perfected through decades of global use, yielding effective, safe, and quick results.

Traditional cataract surgery also goes by the name of phacoemulsification. The process is simpler than its name. It begins in our Bloomington, IN office with the application of numbing eye drops to keep you as comfortable as possible and make the procedure virtually painless. A special device affixed to the eye to ensure there’s no movement during the surgery, which begins with our expert ophthalmologists making a tiny incision on the edge of the cornea. We insert a small probe through this incision.

That probe delivers ultrasonic waves that break down cataracts along with the lens (phacoemulsification), and then we suction out the fragmented pieces. And even though this necessitates the removal of your natural lens, we will replace it with a synthetic intraocular lens (IOL).

Your new IOL will be immune to future cataracts and may also reduce or remove your need for glasses or other visual aids. You may experience redness and minor bruising for a few days, though this is a normal part of the healing process, and the incision itself is so tiny, that it heals rapidly on its own. Of course, we’ll check in with you during the recovery period to evaluate your results and recuperation.

Patients that do not have existing eye conditions (other than cataracts) that could affect healing, and are in good general health, may be good candidates for laser cataract surgery. This procedure is similar to the traditional variant, with the same compassionate care and personalized attention offered to every patient.

The difference is that we implement cutting-edge laser technology to pinpoint an incision site, make the incision, and fragment the cataracts and lens. We then insert your IOL.

Call us to crush cataracts and restore your vision

The laser-assisted procedure provides quicker healing timelines and less downtime. But both versions will give you clearer sight and potentially transform your life, helping you excel and enjoy daily tasks, such as reading, driving, and other activities you love.

If you have cataracts, have any concerns, or have noticed visual disturbances, please reach out to us at The Eye Center of Southern Indiana to schedule a consultation in Bloomington, IN.