A cataract extraction is the surgical removal of a cloudy natural lens from the eye. Modern procedures almost always include implantation of a clear artificial intraocular lens at the same time.
Modern Phacoemulsification
The most common technique used in cataract surgery is phacoemulsification. Ultrasound energy breaks the lens into small fragments, which are then aspirated through a tiny incision.
- The incision is usually self-sealing without stitches
- A foldable lens implant is inserted through the same opening
- The operation is typically performed under local anaesthetic
Older Techniques
Extra-capsular extraction and, more rarely, intra-capsular extraction are older methods now reserved for specific situations. They require larger incisions and different approaches to lens removal.
