Laser Cataract Surgery More Accurate Than Manual

Laser Cataract Surgery More Accurate Than Manual.
Cataract surgery, already an uncommonly all right and pre-eminent procedure, can be made more strict by combining a laser and three-dimensional imaging, a imaginative study suggests. Researchers found that a femtosecond laser, hand-me-down for many years in LASIK surgery, can sign into delicate eye tissue more cleanly and accurately than enchiridion cataract surgery, which is performed more than 1,5 million times each year in the United States manual. In the up to date procedure, which has a 98 percent outcome rate, surgeons use a micro-blade to dig a gird around the cornea before extracting the cataract with an ultrasound machine.

The laser methodology uses optical coherence technology to customize each patient's look measurements before slicing through the lens capsule and cataract, though ultrasound is still in use to expunge the cataract itself. "It takes some faculty and zing to break the lens with the ultrasound," explained pattern researcher Daniel Palanker, an associate professor of ophthalmology at Stanford University. "The laser helps to hasten this up and shape it safer".

After practicing the laser tradition on pig eyes and donated generous eyes, Palanker and his colleagues did further experiments to sanction that the high-powered, rapid-pulse laser would not cause retinal damage. Actual surgeries later performed on 50 patients between the ages of 55 and 80 showed that the laser epitomize circles in lens capsules 12 times more literal than those achieved by the standard method. No adverse things were reported.

The study, reported in the Nov 17, 2010 publication of Science Translational Medicine, was funded by OpticaMedica Corp of Santa Clara, Calif, in which Palanker has an disinterest stake. The results are being reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration, while the laser technology, which is being developed by several own companies, is expected to be released worldwide in 2011.

Dr Scott Greenstein, a extensive ophthalmology and cataracts learned at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, said he was uneasy that the digging was funded by a associates with a picket in the outcome. But he added that the material was encouraging. "I himself am turned on by it," said Greenstein, who teaches ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. "It's an enhancement of something we're already doing that's actually successful. We for a swarm of centers studying this with more patients. It would be of use to dig if there is a significant statistical discrepancy in the outcomes".

Both Greenstein and Dr Richard Bensinger, a Seattle ophthalmologist and spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, expressed problem that the laser-guided cataract surgery would be much more priceless than instructions surgery and were skeptical that healthfulness indemnification companies would be enthusiastic to pick up the tab. "It's a utterly expensive way to do something we do right side now with a $120 instrument that makes the opening. It's serviceable to the extent that it can avoid a fly in the cornea - but the downside is you need a very dear machine to do it. It's at best a little detail that adds a little precision".

Although the femtosecond laser style is unquestionably more precise, Palanker's seek that it results in a better fit for the artificial lens replacing the clouded one is dubious, Bensinger and Greenstein said. Experienced surgeons performing guide cataract surgery seldom have revolt aligning the untrodden lens with the pupil and keeping it in place.

So "Over the thousands of cases I've done, I'm deep down not cognizant personally of this being a problem. If you have a less precise, skilful surgeon then this would be a benefit for the patient. It makes reproducible, perfected incisions every time". Palanker said further investigate will concentration on whether laser-guided cataract surgery results in better postoperative perception than traditional surgery more information. Among the trivial group of study participants there was no significant difference in outcomes between the two.