ORA® Guided Cataract Surgery
Our surgeons at Washington Eye Consultants offer a state of the art technology, the ORA® “Optiwave Refractive Analysis” Intraoperative Wavefront Aberrometer, to dramatically improve vision correction with cataract surgery. Using the ORA® system, Dr. Chu and Dr. Yin are able to access valuable information about the focusing properties of the eye after removal of the cataract during the procedure, allowing them to select the ideal intraocular lens (IOL) without the uncertainty of preoperative calculation and guesswork that doctors and patients without access to the ORA® are forced to deal with. The real-time measurements the ORA® provides allows our surgeons to account for subtle changes that affect the eye before and during surgery. As a result, unintended undercorrection, overcorrection, and astigmatism will be minimized, leading to the best possible visual result to meet each individual patient’s needs and a lower dependence on glasses.
Who Benefits from the ORA® Wavefront Guided Custom System?
ORA® will help every patient with a cataract. The ability of this technology to calculate the perfect intraocular lens implant, based on unique characteristics of each eye, seconds before the surgeon chooses and inserts the lens is remarkable, substantially lowering the uncertainty and anxiety patients may feel about their postoperative vision. The ORA® can even take into account microscopic changes in shape that occur in the eye during surgery itself that may significantly affect the visual result and lens accuracy. This precision the ORA® offers not only enhances routine cataract surgery, but dramatically improves the results of the multifocal and toric IOLs that Dr. Chu and Dr. Yin offer to patients who want to minimize their dependence on glasses. The accuracy of the ORA® system can also be combined with the CATALYS laser-assisted cataract surgery our surgeons offer, to provide a safe, precise, and successful surgical experience.
Laser Cataract Surgery
CUSTOM-TAILORED LASER TREATMENT FOR YOU
Although all eyes share common functions, every eye is unique in shape, size, and prescription.
That’s why every eye must be carefully measured and analyzed prior to cataract surgery.
The laser first acquires 3-D images of the eye, which are then used as templates to create computer-generated laser-guided incisions. This revolutionary advancement offers a true automated image-guided alternative to traditional cataract surgery.
HOW DOES THE LASER WORK?
The laser provides the surgeon computer-controlled precision, through a bladeless procedure. The CATALYS® Laser uses focused femtosecond laser pulses to create incisions in the lens capsule, crystalline lens and the cornea. This results in treatments that are tailored to your specifications and deliver a remarkable degree of accuracy. It automates the most challenging steps of refractive cataract surgery. The laser optimizes all incisions, and replaces need for traditional handheld blades. The laser also treats small amounts of astigmatism, and can fine tune the astigmatism correction of Toric implants, allowing for greater precision to correct astigmatism than ever before. This breakthrough technology is made possible with the use of real-time 3-D visualization to truly customize each unique procedure. The Washington Eye Consultants was one of the first ophthalmology practices in the Washington DC area to utilize this technology, and as a leader in this field, is continuously seeking new and better ways to optimize the procedure and teach others how to use it.
The Laser Cataract Procedure
When you choose laser cataract surgery, you will enjoy the benefits of:
- A relaxed, comfortable setting
- A precise, bladeless procedure
- A premium surgical experience
Choosing laser cataract surgery will enable you to have the confidence that you’ve chosen the most advanced technology available for this life-changing procedure, one that enables a more customized and precise surgical experience.
The Technology of the Laser
The CATALYS Laser is a fully-integrated, image-guided femtosecond laser designed specifically for refractive cataract surgery. Using a customizable 3-D surgical platform, it allows Dr. Chu and Dr. Yin to visualize, customize and perform many of the most challenging steps of cataract surgery:
- Anterior capsulotomy
- Lens fragmentation
- All corneal incisions
True Image-Guided 3-D Surgery
The femto laser allows for visualization of the eye during all stages of the procedure.
From docking to planning and the procedure itself, the CATALYS laser offers multiple visualization options:
- Using the video microscope and integrated real-time Optical Coherence Tomography, the laser is gently interfaced with the eye.
- The display panel and surgical display allows Dr. Chu and Dr.Yin to visually customize the procedure.
- The integrated OCT provides complete visualization of the anterior segment during each phase of the procedure.
Surgical Customization
Every patient is unique – just as every surgeon has a unique approach to performing refractive cataract surgery. The femoto laser recognizes both, with a range of customization options to extend our surgeons’ expertise to every patient seen.
The laser allows Dr. Chu and Dr.Yin to create precise, repeatable incisions using your preferred settings. By automating some of the most challenging steps of cataract surgery, the laser helps to streamline subsequent steps of the procedure – allowing the surgeon to precisely create all incisions and perform lens removal and IOL implementation with increased confidence.
The Laser Cataract Procedure
Once the patient is docked and settings have been confirmed, Dr.Chu or Dr.Yin depresses the foot pedal to initiate the laser procedure:
Capsulotomy
A perfectly sized and centered capsulotomy is formed.
Lens Fragmentation
The lens is fragmented into the desired pattern.
Primary and Secondary Incisions
Primary and secondary incisions are created.
Arcuate Incisions
If arcuate incisions have been selected to correct astigmatism, these are created during this step.
