Cataract Small Incision Surgery

By now, the pupil will be fully open, or dilated. When the operative field is numb, the surgeon will use the microscope to help make a very small incision just 3 millimeters above the iris. The lens is located just behind the iris contained in the elastic capsule. Next the surgeon will open the top of the capsule and remove the lens. Most likely, your doctor will use a small probe which vibrates at a high frequency. The probes vibrations break the old lens into microscopic pieces ... which can then be drawn out with gentle suction. Through the small incision, the surgeon will then insert the new lens. The lens is actually rolled up inside a special injector, designed to fit through the small incision made above the iris. With the tip of the injector inside the eye, the surgeon slowly injects the new lens where it unfolds into position. Because of the small size of the incision, often your surgeon will complete surgery without putting in any stitches. Vision will gradually improve during normal healing over a period of 5 to 8 weeks. Patient Education Company

PreOp | April 9, 2009

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