• Requires a very small incision of 1.5 – 2.8mm
• Cataract Extraction with Phacoemulsification is followed by foldable lens implantation
• Walk-in Walk-out procedure
• Stitch-less, bloodless, painless surgery
• Chances of infection are very low
• Minimum post surgery precautions
• Quicker healing and recovery

Phaco Procedure in detail

Phacoemulsification, or Phaco Surgery, is used to restore vision in patients whose vision has become cloudy from cataract. In the first stages of cataract, people may notice only a slight cloudiness as it affects only a small part of the lens, the part of the eye that focuses light on the retina. As the cataract grows, it blocks more light and vision becomes cloudier. As vision worsens, the surgeon will recommend cataract surgery, usually Phaco, to restore clear vision. With advancements in cataract surgery, patients can sometimes experience dramatic vision improvement.

In Phacoemulsification surgery, ultrasound power is used to break the hard cataract into minute pieces, which are then sucked out through a small 1.5-2.8mm incision. A foldable lens (Intraocular lens or IOL) of the required power is then implanted. The soft construction allows the lens implanted to be folded for insertion through a 1.5 to 2.8mm microincision. Once in place, the lens unfolds to its regular size of 6 mm.

There are a variety of intraocular lens available for implantation, including monofocal, toric, and multi-focal intraocular lenses.

• Monofocal lens: These lenses are the most commonly implanted lenses today. They have equal power in all regions of the lens and can provide high-quality vision at a single focal point (usually at distance). They usually require only a light pair of spectacles for optimal distance vision correction. However, mono-focal lenses do not correct astigmatism, an irregular oblong corneal shape that can distort vision at all distances, and require corrective lenses for all near tasks, such as reading or writing.
• Toric lens: Toric lenses have more power in one specific region in the lens (similar to spectacles with astigmatism correction in them) to correct astigmatism, which can further improve unaided distance vision for many individuals. Due to the difference in lens power in different areas, the correction of astigmatism with a toric lens requires that the lens be positioned in a very specific configuration. While toric lenses can improve distance vision and astigmatism, they still require corrective lenses for all near tasks, such as reading or writing.
• Multi-focal lens: Multi-focal intra-ocular lenses have a variety of regions with different power within the lens that allows individuals to see at a variety of distances, including distance, intermediate, and near. While promising, multi-focal lenses are not for everyone. They can cause significantly more glare than mono-focal or toric lenses. Further, multi focal lenses cannot correct astigmatism, and some patients require additional surgery such as Lasik to correct astigmatism and maximize their unaided vision.

Advantages

• It allows for an injection less, stitch less, painless, no bandage surgery
• Drops of local anesthetic agent are used instead of an injection in the eye, thus leading to a walk-in walk out procedure
• Early visual rehabilitation for the patient
• Minimum curvature changes occur in the eye following surgery
• Post surgery, the wound is very secure
• Final glasses can be prescribed within two weeks

Costs of Phaco Cataract

With a foldable lens: Rs.14,000 Rs.28,000/- per eye

With a multifocal lens: Rs.55,000/- per eye

Authored By Dr. Neera Agrawal