Is lens replacement safe?

Thanks to recent advancements in technology and surgical techniques, cataract surgery has become one of the safest and most gentle medical procedures performed today. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and takes only a few minutes. For added safety, Dr. Horn will perform the procedure in an outpatient surgical facility with a team of skilled professionals and the very latest technology, including Aqualase®, to gently wash away the cataract.

The Aqualase Lens Removal Method

The cataract is situated inside the lens capsule, which is like an elastic bag that holds the lens in place. The standard method to remove the cloudy lens requires the insertion of a small metal probe vibrating at ultrasound frequency to break the lens into small particles so that they can be safely vacuumed from the eye. However the ultrasound treatment acts as a micro jack-hammer in shattering the hardened lens. Occasionally, the forceful action of the ultrasound, combined with the suctioning, can damage healthy portions of the eye. A completely new lens removal technique, called Aqualase®, breaks up the clouded lens with pulses of warm, naturally balanced saline solution to gently wash away the cataract layer-by-layer. A tiny, self-sealing incision allows for quick healing and rarely requires stitches.