Cataract surgery involves removing a cloudy lens from the eye and replacing it with an artificial lens.

To do this, surgeons must break up the cataract in order to remove it through the tiny incision they have made. There are many ways that are currently being tested to break up the cataract lens, but the most common currently is called Phacoemulsification. Phacoemulsification involves using an ultrasonic device to break the lens and remove it from the eye. This process is usually very quick and normally painless for the patient. The procedure takes less than 30 minuets and the patient is able to return home the same day as surgery.

Currently, laser cataract surgery is mostly experimental. In most cases, lasers are not used during cataract surgery. There are instruments currently in testing that seek to use lasers to break up the cataract lens rather than an ultrasonic device, but they are not very common yet. Lasers are however often used after cataract surgery because after cataract surgery the capsule, or bag the lens sits in, can become opacified. This often leaves the patient with the same cloudy vision they had before they had the cataract removed. This is often referred to as a secondary cataract. There is not in reality a second cataract, but the vision loss appears the same and causes the same issues as the original cataract did.

When the capsule has become opacified (secondary cataract), surgeons will often use a laser to clear the opacification. This is not laser cataract surgery, but has the same end result to the patient. Like the cataract surgery itself, this procedure is very quick. Often a laser after cataract surgery takes less than 5 min and patients return home the same day.

Modern cataract surgery has become a very quick and safe procedure. Currently laser cataract surgery is not the standard, but lasers after cataract surgery are very common. It is not unrealistic to think that in the relatively near future laser cataract surgery may become the new standard. We have a long way to go to get there though.

Always discuss any questions you have about your specific case with your cataract surgeon.