A cataract is an opacity or cloudiness in the natural lens of the eye. It is still the leading cause of blindness worldwide and represents an important cause of visual impairment in the United States.

The development of cataracts in the adult is related to aging, sunlight exposure, smoking, poor nutrition, eye trauma, systemic diseases, and certain medications such as steroids.

Just as a smudged or dirty camera lens may spoil a photograph, opacity in the natural lens of the eye can result in a blurred image. Patients with cataracts usually complain of blurred vision either at distance, near, or both. This may interfere with tasks such as driving or reading. Other common complaints include glare, halos, and dimness of color vision.  When you are no longer able to see well enough to do the things you like to do, cataract surgery should be considered.

The only other option for treatment of cataracts is cataract surgery. In cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed from the eye through a surgical incision. In most cases, the natural lens is replaced with a permanent intraocular lens (IOL) implant.

Cataract Surgery with Femtosecond Laser: The LASER allows us to perform several of the most important steps of the surgery without the use of sharp instruments (blades), facilitates the division of the cataract into small fragments which in theory would allow reducing the use of US to remove the cataract and reduce the possibility of complications. So far there is not evidence demonstrating that the FS LASER for cataract surgery is superior to conventional phacoemulsification.

Advanced anterior segment surgeries: Cataract surgery and IOL implantation is the most frequently performed surgery in the world, and it is highly successful, but there are special situations that may make it more complicated and difficult to obtain the usual result, for example in eyes with previous trauma, diseases of the crystalline lens (Marfan’s Syndrome), intraocular inflammation (uveitis), or previous complicated surgeries; for these patients we provide more advanced surgical techniques to achieve correction of the abnormalities and to place the intraocular implants in a successful way .

IOL: Currently IOLs have become a tool of incalculable value in Ophthalmology, not only to replace the lens after the extraction of a cataract, but they are one of the solutions to correct different refractive problems. Toric lenses: They allow to correct the astigmatism.

CXL: It is the only treatment that can stop the natural progression of keratoconus.

Ultraviolet light is applied for a few minutes (3-30 depending on the source of UVL used), CXL can be used associated with ICRS implantation or Topoguided PRK LASER treatment. Currently CXL is being studied as an alternative in the treatment for other eye problems such as severe infections.

It is clearly demonstrated that CXL is beneficial in the management of keratoconus, and is indicated in all patients in whom disease progression is demonstrated.

Corneal rings: They are one of the most useful tools in the management of keratoconus , usually associated with CXL. The aim of the implants is to regularize the cornea and improve vision, to allow a better tolerance of contact lenses or glasses.

Currently the surgery can be done with the use of FS LASER to create the incisions in the cornea, this provides more precision, makes the implant safer, and improves the outcome.