The phacoemulsification method allows patients to regain vision and resume normal activities very quickly following surgery and is very safe.
This method involves creating a tiny incision on the cornea and removing the natural but clouded lens of the eye and placing an artificial lens where the natural lens was found. Contrary to popular belief this involves the use of ultrasound energy and not a laser. Recently Adelaide Eye & Laser Centre commenced using the Infiniti™ cataract removal system. This system offers enhanced ultrasound phacoemulsification modalities enabling flexibility in the way the cataract is removed thereby improving safety and rate of recovery.
Intraocular lens
The procedure is performed in AE&LC’s day surgery facility by surgeons who have specific training in cataract surgery. Your visit may take up to 2 hours.
Small incision cataract surgery:
- Does not involve the routine use of injections or stitches around the eye.
- Is performed under topical anaesthesia with a light intravenous sedative.
- Takes 10-15 minutes per eye although the total length of your stay at the centre will be approximately 2 hours.
- Generally patches are not required to cover the eye after surgery unless the surgeon advises otherwise.
- Only one eye is operated on at a time. The second eye may undergo treatment the following week if necessary; usually the most affected eye is treated first. The surgeon will advise on this.
- The rate of recovery varies for each person but, as a general rule, vision improves over a 24 to 72 hour period.
Vision is generally greatly improved after cataract surgery. Most of this improvement in vision is without distance glasses but residual refractive errors may still require spectacles. In general, reading glasses will still be required.
Multifocal intraocular lenses
Recently improvements in intraocular lens design have made it possible to provide both distance and near vision correction without glasses. Some patients are good candidates for these lenses. Disadvantages include some halos at night and reduced intermediate near vision, eg reading music, using computers. Our surgical staff can advise on suitability.
