CarlinVision is excited to announce the introduction of Blade-Free Laser Cataract Surgery (RELACS) to Gwinnett County. This revolutionary technology using the Alcon LenSx® femtosecond laser makes cataract surgery gentler, more precise, more accurate while increasing safety.

How exactly does it do this? During cataract surgery, two incisions are made into the front of the eye. The capsule surrounding the cloudy lens (cataract) is opened; the cloudy contents are emulsified using ultrasonic energy and then vacuumed out of the eye. An artificial lens implant is then placed into the eye.

During conventional surgery, the incisions are made with a blade. During laser-assisted cataract surgery, perfect and precise incisions are fashioned using a blade-free femtosecond laser.

During conventional surgery, the capsule is punctured with a needle and then a round central tear of pre-determined diameter is made with forceps. During laser cataract surgery, the Alcon LenSx® fashions a perfectly round, perfectly centered opening of an exact diameter.

During conventional surgery, the nucleus of the cataract is divided and removed using ultrasonic energy. During femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery, the laser pre-softens the cataract allowing it to be removed using less ultrasonic energy which makes the procedure gentler on the cornea (the clear crystal over the eye).

Also, during conventional cataract surgery, pre-existing astigmatism may be corrected by the surgeon using a diamond knife blade to perform relaxing incisions of a certain length and depth in the cornea. In laser cataract surgery, the incisions are performed with the laser at a precise exact length and depth which means they are more reliable.

Finally, the laser is able to image the cataract allowing the surgeon to plan more effective removal. All this amounts to an exciting leap forward in cataract surgery technology. For me, as a cataract surgeon, this represents a truly exciting time in ophthalmology. For our patients, it means better results! If you are interested give our surgical counselors a call at 770.979.2020 x245 to learn more about this exciting break-through procedure for cataract surgery!