The Benefits of Laser Cataract Surgery
Cataracts can make it seem like the world is constantly foggy. For cataract sufferers, cataract surgery can help improve vision and eliminate the cloudiness that makes it so hard to see.
Of course, clearer vision is one of the biggest benefits of cataract surgery, but there are many more. Here, we'll take a closer look at the many laser cataract surgery benefits enjoyed by patients at Wicker Park Eye Center in Chicago, IL.
About Laser Cataract Surgery
Traditionally, cataract surgery is performed using a handheld tool to access and remove the lens, where cataracts develop.
Advances in medicine have led to the development of laser-assisted cataract surgery. Instead of using a scalpel, a laser is used to make several small incisions in the cornea to access the lens of the eye. The laser is also used to perform the anterior capsulotomy.
The lens is then broken up with a laser, instead of the ultrasound probe used in the traditional technique, and removed. An intraocular lens (IOL) is then inserted to replace the natural lens and improve vision.
Why Patients Should Undergo Laser Cataract Surgery
Cataracts can significantly impact vision. For many patients with cataracts, vision is cloudy and blurry.
While those with the early stages of cataracts may be able to compensate for their vision impairment with a stronger corrective lens prescription, at some point surgical intervention will likely be necessary.
Cataract surgery is the only way to fully improve the vision of someone with cataracts. Improved vision is only one of several benefits our Chicago patients can expect from laser cataract surgery. Other specific benefits of laser cataract surgery include:
- Improved precision when making incisions
- Less chance of burning the incision or damaging surrounding tissues
- Better outcomes
In addition, cataract surgery offers several general benefits.
Clearer Vision
The primary goal and benefit of laser cataract surgery is to improve vision by removing a cataract damaged lens from the eye and replacing the clouded lens with an artificial lens, or IOL.
Not only does this help eliminate clouding caused by cataracts, replacing the natural lens with an IOL can help reduce the need for eyeglasses or contacts.
Reduced Risk of Injury
Poor vision can make it difficult to see certain hazards throughout daily life. For example, someone with cataracts may miss seeing a step and fall, trip over an object on the ground, or cross a street when unsafe.
Cataract surgery can help people see more clearly, making hazards more visible, much like they would have been before cataracts set it. This may help reduce the risk of injuries by making it easier for those who have had their cataracts removed to see the world around them.
Overall Improved Quality of Life
As cataracts advance, it can be difficult to read, safely walk, or do many other daily activities. Cataracts can lead people to give up their favorite hobbies or stay inside because they can no longer drive.
For our Chicago patients, cataract surgery can improve quality of life by giving them back the ability to see clearly so they can return to doing the things they love.
Is Laser Cataract Surgery Right for You?
If you have cataracts and would like to find out if laser cataract surgery is right for you, please call (773) 376-2020 to schedule a consultation at Wicker Park Eye Center.
