A new treatment for cataracts has
just been unveiled by
American Eye Center (AEC), which promises to provide
patients with the most advanced all-laser cataract procedure---the first of its
kind in Asia.
Dubbed the Alcon LenSx Femtosecond
laser surgery, this new equipment brings an unprecedented level of safety,
speed and precision in treating cataracts, and enhances the host of options for
surgical-based methods that AEC offers its clients.
From a surgical perspective,
advances in cataract treatment have improved the way ophthalmologists deal with
this condition in the past two decades. We have seen how the merger of
technology and surgical ingenuity contributed to making cataract surgery the
modern-day miracle that it is today. Currently, we can remove the cataract
through a very small (2-3mm) incision in the eyeball using fine surgical blades
and implant a multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) that restores full functional
vision in patients after surgery. This is called “Phacoemulsification”,
presently the standard in cataract practice worldwide. Unfortunately, this
procedure has often been mistakenly referred to as “laser eye surgery”—which it
is NOT. It is more appropriate to call this procedure “small-incision cataract
surgery”, “sutureless cataract surgery”, or “no-stitch cataract surgery” for
the layman. True laser-assisted cataract surgery has never been available to
patients until today—with the introduction of the Alcon LenSx femtosecond laser
surgery.
The new Alcon LenSx FemtoSecond laser
The Alcon LenSX Femtosecond laser
differs from the traditional methods of cataract surgery by the absence of the
blade. By using very short yet intense bursts of near-infrared light, the Alcon
LenSX femtosecond laser technology is able to create extremely precise
subsurface cuts without manual intervention The blades used to create the small
incisions in the eye have been completely replaced by this laser, making the
incisions more precise and predictable. In addition, the circular opening that
is
One of the veterans who have undergone the procedure during its press launch
created in the human lens in order
to access the cataract (called a capsulotomy) which was traditionally performed
by human hands has now been replaced by the femtosecond laser, making the
capsulotomies more architecturally round and centered. Studies have shown that
this is very important in intraocular lens stability and refractive
predictability of surgical outcomes (In one study by the American Academy of
Ophthalmology, femtosecond laser incisions achieved perfect capsulotomy
diameter accuracy in 100 percent of cases). Finally, the actual cataract is
also fragmented by the femtosecond laser making it much easier and less
traumatic for the surgeon to remove and clean it up prior to placement of the
IOL. In short, the femtosecond laser has replaced many of the steps in the
cataract surgery that were previously performed by human hands, i.e., resulting
in less surgical error and better predictability of outcomes. Results are more
precise than any other previous or current methods of cataract surgery.
Dr. Cesar Ramon G. Espiritu, who
specializes in Cornea, External Disease treatment at AEC, said that this new
technology shows the company’s commitment to provide the best eye care to its
patients.
“The Alcon LenSx femtosecond laser
surgery is currently the most advanced method for cataract treatment, and we’re
proud to be the first in Asia to offer it,” he says. “We want thousands of
Filipinos suffering from cataracts to see that treatment is now even faster,
much safer, more precise and definitely pain-free.”
Cataract is the leading cause of
blindness in the Philippines, with an estimated half a million Filipinos blind
or having some degree of visual impairment. This disease, which hits almost
everyone due to aging, involves the gradual formation of a cloudy film in the
lens of the eye, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity, and
obstructing the passage of light.
Espiritu emphasizes that patients
must decide their preferred method of surgery together with an expert
ophthalmologist. AEC is backed by a team of Associated Eye Specialists, the
most experienced and longest-running EyeMD group practice in the country, which
comprises 17 doctors with various subspecialties. AEC also boasts a staff of
highly qualified optometrists, nurses and counselors to provide patients with
personalized quality eye care.
The American Eye Center has been
breaking new ground when it comes to ophthalmic care since its establishment in
1995. Accredited with the Department of
Health and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, AEC is fully equipped with
branches located at the
Level 5, EDSA Shangri-La Plaza, and at the Level 4 of
Greenbelt 5, Makati City. For inquiries, call 636-0762 or 729-EYES (3937)
or visit
www.americaneye.com.ph,
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