Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 11/24/2009
Phacoemulsification has taken the previous risks from cataract surgery, making it a much safer procedure. Before phacoemulsification, death after cataract surgery was still rare, but usually stemmed from the possible complications of general anesthesia....
Phaco is performed under local anesthesia, limiting the risk of general anesthetic use.
Other serious complications such as blindness also have been reduced with the widespread use of phaco. Better antibiotics have enabled physicians to combat former debilitating infections that previously would have caused blindness.
Advertisement
This provides a very detailed, step-by-step animation of how cataract surgery is performed. It also show how an intraocular lens or IOL is inserted after the natural lens is removed in the cataract surgery shown.
Ophthalmologists treating a patient for cataracts using phacoemulsification. (Custom Medical Stock Photo. Reproduced by permission.)
In a phacoemulsification procedure, an incision is first made in the cornea, the outer covering of the eye (A). A phacoemulsification instrument uses ultrasonic waves to break up the cataract (B). Pieces of the cataract are then suctioned out (C). To repair the patient's vision, a folded intraocular lens is pushed through the same incision (D) and opened in place (E). (Illustration by GGS Inc.)
Search
Other Information
Phacoemulsification refers to modern cataract surgery in which the eye's internal lens is emulsified with an ultrasonic handpiece, and aspirated from the eye. Aspirated fluids are replaced with irrigation of balanced salt solution, thus maintaining the anterior chamber, as well as cooling the handpiece.
Other Information
Approximately 56% of all patients achieve results of 20/20 or better and over 90% achieve 20/40 or better (which is good enough to drive without corrective lenses in most regions).1 Those with moderate to high myopia (greater than 7 diopters) have a lesser chance of achieving that result. As technique and technology improve, the results continue to improve.
From: Eye Surgery Education Council
Find a Qualified Specialist
Looking for a specialist?
Please enter your zip code.