advances empower
ophthalmologists to
impact post-op vision
outcomes like never
before. These include
lasers, premium multi-
focal lens implants
and intraoperative
aberrometry. We
asked leading ophthal-
mologists how these
advances have helped them achieve better refractive cataract surgery
outcomes.
1. Femto lasers
If you want a sexy new technology that's almost certain to attract new
patients who seek out care at cutting-edge facilities, by all means drop
several hundred thousand dollars on a femtosecond laser platform. If
you want to add equipment that truly impacts refractive outcomes, you
might want to spend your money elsewhere. "There's been no long-
term, peer-reviewed study that's shown femtosecond laser surgery pro-
vides better safety and efficacy than manual techniques," says Dr.
Whitsett.
That may be true, and we hear from some high-volume surgeons
who believe lasers are more marketing hype than meaningful tool, but
that doesn't mean the technology doesn't add clinical benefit during
complex cataract cases.
"The laser's best application is during surgery on patients with low
to moderate levels of astigmatism," says Ronald Krueger, MD, MSE,
medical director of refractive surgery at the Cleveland (Ohio) Clinic
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 1 1
• UNPRECEDENTED OUTCOMES Several new advances empower cataract sur-
geons to impact post-op vision outcomes like never before.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
