Surgery is the only way to treat a cataract

You will see lots of abbreviations associated with cataract surgery

S/P

• Status / Post (this just means they had surgery)

IOL: Intraocular Lens

• This is the implant that replaces the natural lens

KPE: Kelman Phacoemulsification 

• An ultrasonic probe that breaks up and sucks out the cataract during surgery

AK: Astigmatic Keratotomy 

• Incisions are made at the steepest part of the cornea to help cancel out the astigmatism when it heals

ORA: Optiwave Refractive Analysis

• A laser used during cataract surgery to remeasure astigmatism,  curvature, and optimal IOL power

FEMTO / FLACS: Femtosecond Laser / Femtosecond Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery

• This laser creates the incisions in the cornea, capsule, and fragments the lens into small pieces for easier and less traumatic removal

Dextenza

• A Dexamethasone implant done during surgery to decrease inflammation

Monofocal

• The IOL is only for DV or NV

Toric

• A special IOL that cancels out astigmatism

LAL: Light Adjustable Lens

• This IOL can be adjusted after surgery for the best monofocal outcome

Panoptix / Vivity / Symphony / Synergy

• These are types of multifocal IOLs that give an extended range of vision

• They have rings with different refractive powers to achieve this depth of range

Other Terms

• Phakic: The patient has not had cataract surgery yet (natural lenses in place)

• Pseudophakic: The patient had cataract surgery and has IOLs in place

• Aphakic: Rare, but the patient had cataract surgery but no IOLs have been placed after cataract removal

OPC: Opacified Posterior Capsule (AKA: secondary cataract)

• Also abbreviated PCO

• After cataract surgery, cells from the cataract that was removed begin to grow on the back of the capsule holding the lens implant in place. 

• This will eventually cloud a patient's vision again months to years after their cataract surgery, and mimic the symptoms of the original cataract

• A YAG Capsulotomy is the procedure we use to open up the back of the capsule to clear up vision once again

Note: 

• Patients can see floaters for weeks after the procedure. This is completely normal and will clear over time, but there is always a small chance of a retinal detachment

Note

• Patients often think any laser procedure done to their eye is LASIK and they are confused by this!

• They will often come in for an exam as a new patient listing they has LASIK done, but if was really just an SLT,  YLPI, YAG Capsulotomy, or FLACS