Colorado Springs Laser Cataract Surgery
Laser cataract surgery uses a femtosecond laser to perform several steps of cataract surgery that are traditionally done by hand, including making the corneal incisions, creating the opening into the cataract, and softening the lens.
Dr. Anderson performs laser cataract surgery in Colorado Springs with the Catalys Precision Laser System. Before any incision is made, Catalys takes a 3D OCT scan of your eye and maps the cornea, pupil and lens capsule, so each step is planned on a detailed image of your own eye rather than judged by hand.
The laser then carries out three of the most delicate steps of cataract surgery:
- Softening the cataract – the lens is divided and softened before it is removed, so far less ultrasound energy is needed inside the eye. That is gentler on the cornea and especially useful with dense cataracts.
- Opening the lens capsule – a round, precisely sized and centered opening helps the lens implant settle into the position it was planned for.
- Corneal incisions – placed at a planned location, length and depth.
Many cataract patients have enough astigmatism to blur vision at every distance. A toric lens implant corrects it, but only if the lens is aligned on the correct axis – a few degrees off and part of the correction is lost.
This is where the laser earns its place. The Catalys system registers your iris against the measurements taken before surgery, while you were sitting upright, and corrects for the natural rotation of the eye that happens when you lie down. Your steep axis is then marked by the laser on a live image of your eye, and those marks guide the toric lens onto its intended axis.
The result is a more reliable astigmatism correction than marking the eye by hand, and a better chance of sharp distance vision without glasses.
Laser cataract surgery is an upgrade, not a necessity. Standard manual cataract surgery is covered by insurance and still delivers an excellent result for most patients; the laser is an additional out-of-pocket cost.
It tends to be most worthwhile when astigmatism is being corrected with a toric lens, when you have chosen a premium lens where implant position matters more, or when the cataract is dense enough that reducing ultrasound energy is a real advantage.
Dr. Anderson will tell you plainly whether he thinks it is worth the cost in your case. You can read more in the cataract surgery education guide.