{"id":4166,"date":"2026-08-09T20:57:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T18:57:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dralinowrouzi.com\/?p=4166"},"modified":"2026-08-09T20:57:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T18:57:11","slug":"modern-phacoemulsification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dralinowrouzi.com\/en\/blog\/facoemulsificacion-moderna\/","title":{"rendered":"Modern phacoemulsification: cataract surgery with microincision and maximum precision"},"content":{"rendered":"

A very small incision. No stitches in most cases. And a visual recovery that many patients begin to notice from the very next day. Phacoemulsification is the technique that has transformed cataract surgery<\/a> and allows the opacified lens to be removed with precision using ultrasound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modern surgery, however, goes beyond using an advanced machine. It integrates the size and architecture of the incision, the control of fluids inside the eye, the energy used, the planning of the intraocular lens and, in selected cases, the femtosecond laser<\/a>. The goal is the same for every patient: to treat the cataract safely and to guide the procedure toward the best possible visual quality according to their needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Consulta
An individualized assessment allows the most appropriate technique and intraocular lens to be chosen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is phacoemulsification<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Phacoemulsification is a surgical technique used to remove the lens when it has become opaque due to a cataract. The term describes what happens during the operation: a very thin probe emits ultrasound to break the lens into tiny particles and aspirate them through a microincision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike classic extracapsular extraction, which required a much larger wound to remove the lens in one piece, this technique preserves the capsular bag and allows a foldable intraocular lens to be implanted in it. The National Eye Institute<\/a> notes that most current cataract surgeries are performed using phacoemulsification; it is also the procedure described by Mayo Clinic<\/a> as the standard of modern cataract surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why the lens becomes opaque<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most common cause of cataract is natural aging. Poorly controlled diabetes, ocular trauma, certain prolonged treatments with corticosteroids and other individual factors can also accelerate its onset. The opacity may be located mainly in the center of the lens \u2014nuclear cataract\u2014, at its edges \u2014cortical\u2014 or in its posterior zone \u2014posterior subcapsular\u2014. Each type can affect night driving, reading, contrast or glare differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not every cataract must be operated on as soon as it is diagnosed. The decision is usually made when vision begins to limit activities that are relevant to the person, such as reading, driving, working or recognizing faces. In the article on when to operate on cataracts<\/a> the criteria assessed in consultation are explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How the surgery is performed, step by step<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The procedure is usually outpatient. Topical anesthesia with drops is commonly used and, when necessary, light sedation. It usually does not require hospital admission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n