What is phacoemulsification in modern cataract surgery... ask the cataract experts at North Shore Eye Care

Phacoemulsification is the modern way to proceed in cataract surgery. Years ago, cataract or cloudy lenses were removed through a larger incision where the entire cloudy lens was removed as one piece and then the incision would be sutured with roughly 10 stitches. As the cataract surgery procedure evolved under the ideas of Dr. Charles Kelman of Manhattan, eye doctors and eye surgeons started to explore ultrasound as a way to break up the cataract while still in the eye so that a smaller incision could be used. The benefit of a small incision is that it heals faster with less astigmatism or corneal irregularity and possibly cuts down the possibility of infection. The current "phaco" handpiece allow cataract surgeons and cataract doctors to do the entire cataract surgery through an incision that is roughly 2.5 millimeters and this incision does not need to be stitched due to the technique of making the incision as well as the small size of the incision. The phaco handpiece has computer controlled ultrasound that breaks up the cataract. It also has balanced irrigation and aspiration. This balance allows the eye surgeon to add fluid to the eye as the cataract is sucked out and therefore keep the integrity of the eye in place. Phacoemulsification also allows for delivery of a soft intraocular lens or IOL into the eye through the same small incision and this IOL restores vision without significant addition of astigmatism and quick healing and recovery. Current cataract surgery at North Shore Eye Care takes a few minutes and we rarely use stitches, an eye patch or an injection around the eye. We use IV sedation and numbing eye drops and our patients stay in their own comfortable clothes and return home the very same day. North Shore Eye Care has been named a National Crystalens Center of Excellence by Bausch and Lomb and our board certified cataract surgeons, Dr. Jeffrey Martin, Dr. Lawrence Zweibel and Dr. John Mauro are proud to continue the tradition of excellence at our Smithtown New York Long Island eye care practice.

In Long island New york, we see patients from cold spring harbor, huntington, commack, northport, centerport, greenlawn, dix hills, deer park, melville, bay shore, babylon, massapequa, lindenhurst, smithtown, nesconset, saint james, ikings park, fort salonga, bethpage, plainview, woodbury , syosset, manhasset, jericho, brookville, rockville center, new york city, queens, brooklyn and many other towns.