Cataract Surgery Methods & Techniques (Compared)

Although cataract removal surgery is considered an elective surgery it is a medically necessary surgery for millions of people all over the world. As technology improves, devices change cataract surgery cost or are added to the procedure that improve healing time, speed up surgery time, and boost overall outcomes for those who need cataracts removed.

For a long time, traditional cataract surgery was the only way to remove diseased lenses that had cataracts, replacing them with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). However, as laser surgeries for eyes become more popular and the technology gets better, more eye surgeons are offering laser-assisted cataract surgeries. Few insurance companies cover this cost, but there are benefits to laser surgery.

Learn more here about both types of cataract surgery, so you can speak to your optometrist or ophthalmologist about which procedure might work best for you.

Why Do Cataracts Require Surgery?
lasik procedure
Cataracts are a disease of the lens in the eye, which clouds vision, causes blurry or double vision, leads to yellowing of colors, and will eventually lead to blindness if untreated. If you get regular eye exams, it is likely that your optometrist will catch cataracts as they form at an early stage and can monitor how they develop. Eventually, your eye doctor may recommend cataract surgery to correct the issue once the problem becomes serious.

There are two basic types of cataract surgery — traditional or phacoemulsification surgery, and laser-assisted surgery — which lead to the same outcome: removing the diseased lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. The main difference between the two procedures is the tools used. Your eye surgeon will either use a scalpel or a laser to make very small incisions in your eye.

There are some differences between the two procedures. Medical research is continuing to evaluate which operation has less impact and shorter healing times.