Laser Cataract Surgery & Cost in Delhi

Laser cataract treatment is a cutting-edge medical procedure that has revolutionized eye care, especially in Delhi. Utilizing advanced laser technology, this treatment offers a precise and minimally invasive approach to cataract surgery in Delhi. Medfin, one of the leading healthcare providers in the region, is known for offering this state-of-the-art laser cataract treatment near you. With experienced ophthalmologists and top-notch facilities, Medfin ensures that patients in Delhi receive the best possible care for their vision needs, making laser cataract treatment an accessible and highly effective solution.

You may have heard of or known an older adult who is struggling with their vision due to a cataract. Yes, it is a common eye condition that develops with aging. A cataract is a buildup of protein on the eye’s natural lens that leads to cloudy and blurry vision. 

Though living with cataract symptoms may be manageable for several years, if it starts interfering significantly with vision, surgery becomes the only option to treat a cataract. 

In this article, find out all about cataracts, their management, and a specific type of cataract surgery called laser cataract surgery.

In the case of a normal and healthy eye, light enters the eye and passes through a natural lens (the clear curved structure in the front of the eye) that focuses it on the retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye). The retina converts the light into signals and helps your brain form an image. 

A cataract is a cloudy area that forms on the clear lens of the eye due to the breakdown of proteins in the lens. When the lens is blocked by the cloudiness, over time it cannot focus light properly and your vision is adversely affected. This breakdown of proteins in cataracts is usually age-related and develops slowly.

Although aging is the most common cause of cataracts, you may get them due to various other reasons including:

• Having a family history of cataracts
• Developing health issues such as diabetes
• Smoking
• Being affected by an eye injury 
• Undergoing eye surgery 
• Getting radiation treatment on the upper body
• Spending a lot of time in the sun, especially without UV-protection sunglasses
• Using medications such as corticosteroids

Common signs and symptoms of cataracts include:

• Clouded, blurry, or dim vision
• Double vision in the affected eye
• Difficulty with night vision
• Sensitivity to glare
• Presence of halos around lights
• Requirement of frequent changes in prescription of eyeglasses or contact lenses
• Seeing colors as faded or yellowing

In the initial stages, you may be able to manage cataracts with stronger lighting, a new prescription for glasses, or the use of a magnifying glass. You can also opt for eyeglasses with an anti-glare coating to manage cataract symptoms. 

However, as the cataract progresses and starts affecting your vision adversely, surgery becomes the only suitable option for the treatment of cataracts. Cataract surgery is generally considered a safe and effective procedure.

There are three main types of cataract surgeries:

1. Phacoemulsification: This type of cataract surgery makes a small incision at the edge of the cornea (the clear dome-shaped front surface of the eye) and inserts a device (“phaco”) that emits ultrasonic waves to break (“emulsify”) the clouded lens into tiny pieces. The broken lens pieces can be suctioned out of the eye with a vacuum. The lens capsule (the membrane surrounding the lens) is left intact and an artificial intraocular lens implant (IOL) is placed there to help restore vision.
2. Extracapsular Cataract Extraction (ECCE): In this type of cataract surgery, the surgeon makes a larger incision at the edge of the cornea, removes the clouded lens in one piece, and leaves the back of the lens capsule intact. The artificial IOL is added in place of the damaged lens into the lens capsule.
3. Laser Cataract Surgery: Also called laser-assisted cataract surgery (LACS) or femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS), this type of cataract surgery uses a femtosecond laser (an infrared laser that emits bursts of laser energy at a very fast rate) to make precise incisions in the cornea and lens capsule, as well as to soften the clouded cataract lens before it is removed.

Laser cataract surgery in Delhi, laser-assisted cataract surgery (LACS), or femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS), is a type of cataract surgery in which the laser replaces most of the other equipment. 

 A laser cataract surgery in Delhi includes the following broad steps:

• Incision: An OTC-equipped (optical coherence tomography) laser is used to make an incision at the edge of the cornea in the eye.
• Cataract Fragmentation: A laser may be used to soften the clouded lens by breaking it into small pieces.
• Phacoemulsification: A device delivers ultrasound vibration at high speed to dissolve the cloudy lens into tiny fragments that are suctioned out of the eye.
• Capsulotomy: A laser is used to open up the lens capsule (the membrane holding the lens) and access the lens. 
• Replacement: A new artificial lens is manually inserted into the capsule in place of the damaged lens.

• Your eye surgeon will schedule a consultation wherein you can discuss the surgery, your expectations, the benefits and risks involved, and any questions you may have. 
• In this consultation, your medical and surgical history, and any medication you are taking will also be discussed. The doctor may ask you to discontinue or adjust the dose of medications, such as any medication that may increase the risk of bleeding during the procedure. 
• The doctor will perform an eye exam where they will dilate your pupils and look at the structure of your eye. 
• You may also be asked to undertake blood tests, chest X-ray, and electrocardiogram (EKG) as part of pre-surgical testing.
• You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for a few hours before the surgery. 
• You should arrange for someone to drive you home after the surgery.
• Do not apply any cream or makeup to the face on the day of the procedure. Keep your hair pinned away from your eyes.

• The surgical team will start by injecting an anesthetic into your IV, putting numbing drops in your eyes, and dilating your pupil with special eye drops.
• Your face will be covered with a surgical drape. The team will clean the area around your eye and may add antibiotic drops to your eye.
• Your eye will be propped open with a retractor throughout the procedure.
• The surgeon will make a small incision (about 2 to 2.5 mm long) at the edge of the cornea with a laser to access the lens capsule and the clouded lens. 
• Then, the surgeon will use a femtosecond laser to break the clouded lens into small pieces.
• The OTC-integrated laser is used to create a small, circular opening in the front part of the lens capsule that holds the lens. This circular incision can be centered precisely to hold the new lens implant in place. This step is called a capsulotomy.
• The clouded lens, which is already pre-softened, is removed manually using a handheld ultrasound device by a process called phacoemulsification.
• A new IOL is manually inserted into the lens capsule in place of the damaged lens.
• The incision in this cataract surgery is self-sealing and thus does not need stitches.
• At the end of the surgery, the team may cover your eye with bandages for protection.

• You will be monitored for a few hours after the surgery and discharged if there are no indications of complications. 
• The team may give you pain medication, prescription antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory eye drops to help with the healing. 
• You will also receive instructions about post-surgical eye care, follow-up appointment details, and signs of complications to watch out for.
• You may be able to see clearly within a few days after the surgery. However, complete recovery may take about 3 months and vision stabilization should happen in 6 months. 
• During the recovery period, remember to avoid:
  • Getting water or chemicals such as hairspray into your eyes. 
  • Stepping outside without sunglasses. 
  • Driving unless the surgical team says you are fit to do so.

The benefits of laser cataract surgery over traditional cataract surgery include:

• Provision of 3D eye mapping before the surgery to decide where the incisions must be made. 
• More accurate incisions when compared to a scalpel.
• Easier to make accurate incisions in case of dense cataracts. 
• Better healing as laser incisions seal better than scalpel incisions.
• Less swelling and inflammation in the cornea.
• Faster recovery from surgery.
• Correction of minor cases of astigmatism. 
• Possibility of being able to go glass-free after surgery. 

Risks or potential complications associated with laser cataract surgery include: 

• Damage to other parts of the eye
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Swelling inside or in the front of the eye
• Swelling in the retina
• Detached retina
• Persistent pain
• Blurry vision or vision loss
• Seeing halos, glare, and dark shadows
• Dislocation and movement of the IOL implant
• Incomplete capsulotomy
• Loss of suction during the procedure
• Development of secondary cataract

Surgery can be a daunting aspect, and feeling anxious is absolutely normal. The massive amount of information you can get from the internet may confuse you even more. This is where Medfin can help. Leave us the hefty task of finding the best hospital, the finest doctor, and the latest procedure at the lowest cost. Let us take charge while you sit back and focus on your health and recovery. Think surgery! Think Medfin!