How are cataracts removed from the eye?
There are currently two methods of cataracts removal. One is known as the small incision method and the other the large incision method. In the small incision cataracts removal process a very tiny incision is made in the cornea with the use of an extremely thin blade, usually made from a diamond. The slit is then widened slightly to form a circular opening. A procedure using a phacoemulsification machine is used to remove the inner nucleus of the lens. The phacoemulsification instrument is inserted into the small slit previously made and the end of this machine, made of a piece of metal probe, vibrates back and forth at a very high frequency (50,000 cycles per second) resulting in the emulsification (or breaking down into small pieces) of the central nucleus. The next step is to aspirate, or suck out, the broken up pieces of lens. A few other minor steps are completed in order to remove any left over sections of lens. At this point the intraocular lens (IOL) is placed into the region w
