Hyderabad, September 28, 2015: Cataract surgery in India is set to become even more Precise and Safe. Femtosecond laser, which was originally used for vision correction surgery, is now being used in India to treat cataract also. Femtosecond will largely reduce the Human factor and will make the Cataract procedure computer controlled with precision levels of 30 microns (one third of the thickness of human hair).
Currently, with the Phacoemulsification technology ultrasonic energy (mechanical energy) is used to break the clouded natural lens. First, we make an incision of 2-3 mm in size with a steel blade. Then, we put the ultrasonic probe in the eye that breaks the cataract lens into several pieces to suck it out. We then replace the lens with an artificial intra-ocular lens,” said Dr Ravi Kumar Reddy Medical Driector Medivision Eye Care Centre, a premier Eye care centre in Hyderabad which is first to adopt this latest technological advancement with liquid optics interface in the treatment of cataract surgery.
“The Medivison Eye centres primary motive is to make high quality eye care services available for all. Our key objective of introducing Femtosecond laser technology is to offer personalized, preventive and restorative care to our patients. The technology is a revolutionary technology which automates the most crucial steps of the cataract surgery namely incision of the cornea, opening of the lens capsule and fragmentation of the lens which will be guided robotically, greatly enhancing precision and safety,” Dr Rupak Reddy said.
Femtosecond Laser is fast gaining popularity around the globe due to the excellent benefits it offers to the patients. The Femtosecond laser technology and its use for cataract has been discussed at various national and international platforms.
India is home to 12 million blind people of which 70% is due to cataract. “In India, about 5 million cataract surgeries are done annually, which are the highest in the world. But we need to do over 10 million,” said Dr Ravi Kumar Reddy.
Cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. It is the most common cause of vision loss in people above 50 years, and is the main cause of blindness in the world. The lens inside the eye focuses light onto the retina and adjusts the eye’s focus, letting us see things clearly. The lens is mostly made of water and protein. But as we age, some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a cataract. Over time, it may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it difficult to see.
Femtosecond laser uses a near-infrared light to create precise subsurface cuts. Its pulses are very short, which allows lower energy levels and aids in precision. The lower energy also decreases collateral damage.
Corporate Comm India(CCI Newswire)