How Does Femtosecond Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery Work?

It’s common for many men and women to develop cataracts, especially as they age over 55 years old. For many, the thought of cataract surgery can be a daunting one — the process of having a blade near the eye can be a scary thought. However, over time, surgery can be a necessity as cataract symptoms increase.

At Ticho Eye Associates, board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Benjamin Ticho and his talented team help men and women at our Chicago Ridge, IL, Tinley Park, IL, and Munster, IN locations remove cataracts utilizing laser assisted cataract surgery, so the use of a blade is eliminated. This not only removes a great fear for men and women but also provides more accurate results using state-of-the-art technology.

When do you need cataract surgery?

While many know the term, many often wonder, “What are cataracts?” A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens right behind the pupil. As protein builds up in this area — due to environmental factors — patients will begin to have symptoms, such as:

• Glare
• Halo
• Hazy or dull vision

Over time, these symptoms can lead to difficulty seeing and can impact one’s quality of life. It’s at this point that we typically suggest visiting one of our Chicago Ridge, IL, Tinley Park, IL, or Munster, IN locations to see if you would benefit from cataract surgery.

What is femtosecond laser assistant cataract surgery?

At Ticho Eye Associates, Dr. Ticho utilizes the cutting-edge technology of laser assisted eye surgery in addition to traditional cataract eye surgery. During traditional cataract removal surgery, your doctor will use a blade to make a tiny incision in the corneal tissue. From there, he or she will use a handheld tool to break up the cataract and insert an artificial lens to replace the eye’s lens.

Laser cataract surgery is quite similar. However, rather than using a blade to cut through the corneal tissue, a laser is used to determine the best incision site, create the cut (rather than a blade), and very carefully identify the best way to break up the cataract.

Aside from producing a more precise way to remove the cataract, there are a number of other benefits of femtosecond laser cataract surgery, including:

• Smoother removal
• Laser may correct minor astigmatism
• Reduces some visual aberrations, potentially leading to improved quality of vision
• Faster recovery

Whether you would benefit best from traditional cataract surgery versus femtosecond laser cataract surgery is something you can expect our Chicago Ridge, IL, Tinley Park, IL, and Munster, IN doctors to review with you before your surgery. However, laser cataract surgery side effects are typically less traumatic than traditional side effects, which could include more pain, discomfort in and around the eye, blurred vision, and an itchy feeling in the eye for a few days following your procedure.

If you’re ready to take back your vision and get rid of any blurry or cloudy spots in your eyes by having cataract removal, Ticho Eye Associates is here for you. Whether in Tinley Park, IL, Chicago Ridge, IL, or Munster, IN, our talented eye specialists can help you decide if traditional or femtosecond laser cataract surgery is best for you and help you see better once again. For more information, give one of our three locations a call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Benjamin Ticho.