What is “No-Stitch” cataract surgery?
No-Stitch cataract surgery, also referred to as small-incision cataract surgery or microsurgery, involves using an instrument called a phacoemulsifier. Though this instrument is often referred to as a laser, it is not. This instrument is inserted through a tiny hole in your cornea. The instrument then produces sound waves which break up the lens. The pieces are then vacuumed out through this same tiny hole, and a new, folded lens inserted through the hole. This new lens opens up like a butterfly unfolding its wings once it is in the right place. The slit heals quickly, often requiring no stitches or only a single stitch to close it. This make the recovery process very quick , much quicker than with traditional surgery. – Niki A. Silverstein, M.D.
