Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in LASIK on October 15, 2014
The surgeons at EyeHealth Northwest are pleased to be the first in the Portland Metro area to perform Custom Laser Cataract Surgery using femtosecond laser technology. Surgeons at EyeHealth Northwest have been providing advanced cataract surgery to the Portland metropolitan area for more than 55 years. With the introduction of the advanced laser technology system to the practice, the team of cataract surgeons will be able to better predict outcomes and further customize surgical treatments for each patient. The system performs surgery according to surgeon preferences, using focused laser pulses to create incisions in the lens capsule, crsytalline lens and cornea. This results in treatments that are tailored to surgeon specifications and may deliver a remarkable degree of accuracy, thereby extending the surgeon’s expertise with laser precision. Utilizing this new technology will be able to create predictable openings that carry through subsequent steps of cataract surgery as it helps them deliver on a targeted refractive outcome.
Age-related cataract is the leading cause of blindness representing 51% of all blindness globally. While that is a staggering number, cataract surgery is safe and effective, and in approximately 90% of cases, people who have cataract surgery have better vision afterwards. A cataract is the age-related clouding of the natural clear lens in the eye, resulting in hazy vision, unusual glare, poor night vision, and a reduction in color perception. Vision loss due to cataracts can be restored by surgically removing the affected lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens.
Traditional Cataract Surgery vs. Custom Laser
Cataract Surgery
With traditional cataract surgery, the surgeon makes incisions and removes the natural lens using traditional metal surgical instruments and blades. The LenSX® Laser with the SoftFit™ Patient Interface allows eye surgeons to utilize the precision of a femtosecond laser to perform the most challenging manual steps of cataract surgery through an image-guided, reproducible laser treatment. This includes lens fragmentation, corneal incisions, and creating an opening within the eye so that the surgeon can access and remove the cloudy, natural lens. Utilizing the LenSX® laser approach for custom laser cataract surgery, the patient will enjoy the benefits of a “blade-free” surgical procedure, enhanced distance vision with the correction of astigmatism or a full range of vision by using a multifocal lens implant.
About EyeHealth Northwest
EyeHealth Northwest represents a diverse team of 22 board-certified ophthalmologists and fellowship-trained cataract, glaucoma, retina, oculoplastics and corneal specialists. Serving our community since 1954 EyeHealth Northwest is the largest ophthalmology group in the Pacific Northwest. EyeHealth Northwest has experts providing personalized service in routine checkups for glasses to the most complicated surgical procedures including cataract removal, LASIK, glaucoma, dry eye, retina, macular degeneration, and corneal transplantation. Learn more about our services and surgeons at www.eyehealthnw.com. The surgeons are available for interview upon request.
