How is cataract eye surgery performed?
Throughout the United States and around the world, more than 1.4 million people have cataract eye surgery each year, and a high percentage of those treated regain useful vision.
The most common type of cataract eye surgery performed in the U.S. today is an outpatient procedure using a process called phacoemulsification. During this surgery, the surgeon makes a tiny incision and uses high-speed ultrasound waves to break the cataract into tiny pieces that are then removed.
The surgeon will then replace the lens with a clear intraocular lens (IOL) implant. IOLs are designed to perform most of the functions of the natural lens. They are made of special materials that require no care and will not be rejected by the eye. Cataract lens replacement options vary in material type and strength, as do glasses or contact lenses, and are selected to improve the eye's focusing ability.