Evolution of cataract surgery and assistive technology: an overview

While cataract surgery has always been about removing a cloudy lens to help people see more clearly again, the technology behind cataract surgery has advanced significantly.

Before, people received monofocal lenses during the surgery. They are designed with a single focal point and help to restore clarity and reduce glare caused by the cataracts, although glasses often required post-surgery to see best at near and sometimes distance activities. Monofocal lenses remain widely used today and continue to provide reliable, high-quality vision.

Today, additional lens options include multifocal and extended depth-of-focus designs. These lenses provide a broader range of vision, and some to address astigmatism—a condition in which the front surface of the eye has an irregular shape. In some cases, newer lens designs may reduce dependence on glasses based on people’s visual preferences and daily activities.

Beyond lens design, the tools used to measure the eye have become more sophisticated. Before surgery, advanced imaging systems gather highly detailed information about the eye’s shape and structure. Techniques such as corneal topography, tomography and optical biometry allow for precise measurements. Those measurements are then used to help estimate appropriate lens power prior to surgery.

Technology such as digital guidance systems may also assist during surgery and help align certain lenses to address astigmatism. Intraoperative measurement systems can assess the eye in real time after the cataracts were removed, which may provide further data to support lens selection and positioning while the procedure is underway.

—Dr. Maltish Lorenzo, MD Ophthalmologist at Eye Physicians of Long Beach and Leisure World Seal Beach Optum HCC