The eye sees when light enters inside the eye, much like a photograph which is generated when light enters the camera. Inside your eye is a natural clear lens just like the lens of a camera. It focuses the light rays coming through the pupil on to the retina at the back of the eye, which in turn collects this light and sends a message to your brain, enabling you to see.

For the vision to be perfect, the lens should be clear so that the light can pass through it. Light enters through the cornea, passes through your natural lens and is focused on to your retina, resulting in clear vision.

Cataract is the clouding (opacification) of this natural lens, which prevents the light rays from reaching the retina. In early cataract, a change in glass power may help, but you may have fuzzy vision and difficulty while driving at night. But later on, it progressively affects vision till only perception of light remains (in mature cataract). Cataract is the leading cause of decreased vision.

What are the surgical techniques available for cataract surgery at Anjani Eye Hospital?

Anjani Eye Hospital is fully equipped with the most modern technology for performing suture-less cataract surgeries and achieving a perfect outcome. We have the world’s best phacoemulsification machines from Alcon viz., the Centurion Vision System (purely for phacoemulsification) and the Constellation Vision System (for vitrectomy and phacoemulsification). Both these machines can be used for the latest Micro-Coaxial Cataract Surgery (MICS), or removal of the cataract through a 1.8 to 2 mm incision with the implantation of foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs). We also offer all the kind of IOLs mentioned above.

Phacoemulsification is at present universally accepted as the standard of care for cataract surgery. Ultrasound energy is used in phacoemulsification to break up the cataract (emulsify) into smaller fragments, which can be sucked out of the eye by an automated vacuum pump. Micro Incision Cataract Surgery (MICS) or “Micro-coaxial Phacoemulsification” is a type of phacoemulsification of the cataract through a wound of 1.8 to 2.2 mm or less. A foldable intraocular lens is then implanted in the eye at the end, through the same incision. This needs a special machine and is technically advanced procedure needing surgical expertise.

Femtosecond Laser Assisted cataract surgery (blade-less cataract surgery)

In standard phacoemulsification, the corneal incisions are made with a metal blade. The circular opening in the lens capsule from which to remove the cataract and place an artificial lens is made using a sharp bent needle. The surgeon then divides the lens by various techniques using phacoemulsification probe (instrument) and later removes these pieces by breaking them down further using ultrasound energy. In blade-less cataract surgery with femtosecond laser, the entire process is automated using the machine’s integrated OCT guided imaging system. Since the surgery is done with laser, the incisions are more precise and the capsular opening is perfectly centered and round. This allows for exact placement of the artificial lens implant optimizing visual outcomes. This is of utmost importance in premium intraocular lenses such as aspheric design IOLs, Toric IOLs and Multifocal IOLs where the slightest error can compromise the quality of vision. Moreover, as the laser divides the lens into small fragments, the amount of ultrasound energy used to remove the cataract is greatly reduced, which in turn helps in early visual recovery. The additional advantage of this laser is that it is accurate enough to plan incisions in the peripheral cornea to aid in the correction of pre-existing corneal astigmatism (cylindrical power). The femtosecond laser is the latest breakthrough in advanced cataract surgery as a means to providing precision and safety to crucial steps of the surgery.