Cataract surgery is the removal of the cloudy natural lens of the eye with or without the placement of an artificial lens. This is one of the most common surgical procedures performed every year; the procedure has undergone much refinement over the years.
Intracapsular Cataract Extraction
The older method of cataract surgery is the intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE), where the cloudy cataract and the lens capsule is removed in one piece and the intraocular lens is then placed in the front of the eye. This procedure requires a large incision in the eye and a long recuperation period.
Cryoextraction
Cryoextraction is a version of ICCE where a cryoprobe is used to freeze the lens tissue and allow its removal. It is only used today to remove dislocated lenses.
Extracapsular Cataract Extraction
In extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE), the lens is manually expressed through a moderately large incision through an opening in the lens capsule. An intraocular lens can then be placed in the capsular bag.
Phacoemsulification
In this procedure, the surgeon operates with a machine that uses ultrasonic waves to emulsify (liquidify) and then uses another instrument to remove the cataract through a small opening in the eye. The lens is placed in the capsular bag as well.
Intraocular Lens Implantation
Intraocular lenses are made of plastic, silicon or acrylic and have refractive or corrective power. These lens can be used with any of the procedures.
Prevalence of Types of Surgery
In the United States, the phacoemulsification procedure is the most commonly used, but because of the cost of the machine, the ECCE procedure is the most commonly performed type in the world. ICCE is rarely used anymore.
Tags: ICCE where, intraocular lens then, large incision, lens capsule, lens then, lens then placed