Femtosecond Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery

What is femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery?

Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery at Orange County Cataract and Glaucoma is a minor procedure in which your eye doctor uses a specialized femtosecond laser to make precise cuts in the eye to remove a cataract and replace it with a clear lens.

Femtosecond laser surgery uses cutting-edge laser technology to make corneal incisions with the utmost accuracy to reduce astigmatism and sharpen vision. It can also allow your surgeon to avoid using a blade to make the incisions and offers more precise cuts. It also helps soften a cataract before removal, lessening the intraoperative stress on your eye.

Am I a candidate for femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery?

Not everyone is a candidate for femtosecond laser cataract surgery. The type of cataract you have and your eye’s anatomy will determine if the procedure is right for you.

Your ophthalmologist examines your eyes and completes a vision screening to determine the most effective solution. They also discuss your eye health and medical histories. Conventional cataract surgery is also an option.

What happens during femtosecond-assisted laser cataract surgery?

Femtosecond-assisted laser cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure completed under local anesthesia and light sedation. Your surgeon numbs your eye, uses a laser to reduce astigmatism and complete some of the steps of the surgery with laser instead of by hand, then removes the cataract fragments and inserts the clear replacement lens. The procedure takes 10-15 minutes. Your surgeon completes cataract surgery on just one eye at a time.

What should I expect after the procedure?

After the procedure, you rest in a recovery area and go home the same day. Have someone drive you. Follow your after-care instructions, including wearing a protective eye shield and using eye drops. Avoid rubbing your eyes and schedule follow-up visits at Orange Country Cataract and Glaucoma as instructed.

Call the office any time with questions. Most patients can expect improvements in their vision within several days after the surgery. Plan to resume your normal activities after about a week unless instructed otherwise by your surgeon.

Complete recovery can take as long as eight weeks. If you need cataract surgery in your other eye, make arrangements to schedule surgery when given the OK by your ophthalmologist.

Schedule an appointment at Orange Country Cataract and Glaucoma by phone or request one online today to learn if you’re a candidate for femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery.