CATARACT
Cataract is a common eye disease characterized by a progressive loss of transparency of the lens, or of that lens which is located within our eye, behind the iris, and that contributes to focusing on images on the retinal plane. In most cases, it is an age-related pathology as it typically arises after the age of 60, but in some cases it may already be present at birth (congenital cataract) or present at an earlier time caused by trauma or by the use of some medications.
The most common symptoms that signal the presence of cataracts range from altered perception of colors, which lose intensity, to worsening night vision or double vision.
There are no drug therapies that prevent or cure cataracts and the only way to restore good vision is to resort to surgery. Cataract surgery is a procedure that can be addressed as soon as the patient and the doctor find that the vision has deteriorated so much that it interferes with the patient’s quality of life.
It is a Day Surgery operation, that is, without hospitalization; it is performed under local anesthesia with only a few drops of eye drops and the patient, while remaining awake during the operation, does not feel any pain.
PHACOEMULSIFICATION FOR CATARACT
The most modern and today’s universally used technique for the removal of cataracts is called phacoemulsification and consists of the aspiration of the central part of the lens (nucleus) by means of an ultrasound probe and the cleaning of the residual portion (cortical).
Subsequently, an artificial crystalline lens (intraocular lens) is implanted which has the purpose of replacing the biological functionality possessed by the natural crystalline lens. This technique guarantees immediate visual recovery and a significant reduction in complications. The intervention is very quick depending on the procedure used and after a few hours, the patient can return home.
FEMTO LASER-ASSISTED SURGERY
Cataract surgery in has undergone significant technological evolutions. The introduction of the Femtosecond Laser (or Femto Laser) has literally revolutionized this type of surgery which is also referred to as femto cataract.
Thanks to the laser, the main phases of the surgery are programmed by the surgeon on the computer and carried out by the laser in a few seconds, without the use of scalpels and forceps.
All the steps are monitored in real time through a sophisticated equipment, called optical coherence tomography (OCT), which performs a three-dimensional control of the structures to be operated by guiding the action of the laser.
However, not all eyes are compatible with this technique, only the ophthalmologist, through specific examinations, can evaluate and establish the most suitable operating method.
IMPLANTATION OF INTRAOCULAR LENSES (IOLs)
In cataract surgery, the removal of the lens by means of an ultrasound probe or Femto Laser is followed by the implantation of toric monofocal lenses or multifocal lenses for cataracts.
The implantation of a monofocal lens almost completely corrects the patient’s historical visual defect, although it will be necessary to continue to wear glasses to read.
Thanks to the toric intraocular lenses, it is possible to almost totally cancel the astigmatic defect. The implantation of a multifocal toric lens, if necessary, can reduce or completely eliminate the need for glasses.
The high level of precision achieved by diagnostic instruments now makes it possible to measure and record the anatomical and functional characteristics of each eye, providing the complete mapping of the visual system on which to build a personalized intervention.
In this way, the choice of the lens to be implanted becomes a refractive procedure allowing, in many cases, to strongly reduce or eliminate the dependence on the use of bifocal or reading glasses after the surgery.
The most common symptoms that signal the presence of cataracts range from altered perception of colors, which lose intensity, to worsening night vision or double vision.
There are no drug therapies that prevent or cure cataracts and the only way to restore good vision is to resort to surgery. Cataract surgery is a procedure that can be addressed as soon as the patient and the doctor find that the vision has deteriorated so much that it interferes with the patient’s quality of life.
It is a Day Surgery operation, that is, without hospitalization; it is performed under local anesthesia with only a few drops of eye drops and the patient, while remaining awake during the operation, does not feel any pain.
PHACOEMULSIFICATION FOR CATARACT
The most modern and today’s universally used technique for the removal of cataracts is called phacoemulsification and consists of the aspiration of the central part of the lens (nucleus) by means of an ultrasound probe and the cleaning of the residual portion (cortical).
Subsequently, an artificial crystalline lens (intraocular lens) is implanted which has the purpose of replacing the biological functionality possessed by the natural crystalline lens. This technique guarantees immediate visual recovery and a significant reduction in complications. The intervention is very quick depending on the procedure used and after a few hours, the patient can return home.
FEMTO LASER-ASSISTED SURGERY
Cataract surgery in has undergone significant technological evolutions. The introduction of the Femtosecond Laser (or Femto Laser) has literally revolutionized this type of surgery which is also referred to as femto cataract.
Thanks to the laser, the main phases of the surgery are programmed by the surgeon on the computer and carried out by the laser in a few seconds, without the use of scalpels and forceps.
All the steps are monitored in real time through a sophisticated equipment, called optical coherence tomography (OCT), which performs a three-dimensional control of the structures to be operated by guiding the action of the laser.
However, not all eyes are compatible with this technique, only the ophthalmologist, through specific examinations, can evaluate and establish the most suitable operating method.
IMPLANTATION OF INTRAOCULAR LENSES (IOLs)
In cataract surgery, the removal of the lens by means of an ultrasound probe or Femto Laser is followed by the implantation of toric monofocal lenses or multifocal lenses for cataracts.
The implantation of a monofocal lens almost completely corrects the patient’s historical visual defect, although it will be necessary to continue to wear glasses to read.
Thanks to the toric intraocular lenses, it is possible to almost totally cancel the astigmatic defect. The implantation of a multifocal toric lens, if necessary, can reduce or completely eliminate the need for glasses.
The high level of precision achieved by diagnostic instruments now makes it possible to measure and record the anatomical and functional characteristics of each eye, providing the complete mapping of the visual system on which to build a personalized intervention.
In this way, the choice of the lens to be implanted becomes a refractive procedure allowing, in many cases, to strongly reduce or eliminate the dependence on the use of bifocal or reading glasses after the surgery.