PHACOEMULSIFICATION


What is Phacoemulsification surgery?

It is a modern method of cataract surgery wherein the cataract is removed from the eye by dividing it into small pieces, which are aspirated by a needle. Its uses ultrasound for mechanical division of the cataract and not lasers, as is the popular myth.


How is it different from conventional cataract surgery?

The conventional cataract surgery involves physically expressing out the lens from the eye and thus requires a wound of 10-12mm size and a minimum of five sutures. The Phaco surgery can however be done through small self-sealing wound of 3.5mm in size not requiring any sutures. The visual recovery takes at least six weeks in the former while only 2 weeks in the latter. The small foldable lenses can only be implanted in Phaco surgery.


How safe is it?

Phaco surgery is absolutely safe in experienced hands. We have an experience of at least 12000 such surgeries.


Which lens is preferred?

Phacoemulsification works best with a foldable small lens that requires a small wound and thus does not require sutures. However, if cost is the constraints a non-foldable lens can also be implanted. It is much smaller than used in conventional surgery (5.5mm v/s 6.5mm) and sometimes requires putting single suture.


Will it be painful?

The surgery is done under local anesthesia achieved by giving an injection or topical eye drops and thus is painless.


What are the postoperative precautions?

You will have to use eye drops for about 4 weeks. It is advisable not to splash on your open eye or rubbing it for at least 2 weeks. The dusty conditions are avoided for the same duration. There is no restriction in reading, bathing, watching TV or eating any type of food.


Will I need glasses after surgery?

At present generation of intraocular implants are univocal. They provide vision for either near or distance. Thus, you will require glass for near if corrected for distance and vise versa. We generally correct for the distance and provide glasses for near work. However, the fine-tuning of distance vision may also require a small correction.