Cataract: Instrumentation

27/01/2023

Cataract surgery must be performed with specialized instruments that will allow the surgeon precision and efficiency. Discover the list of instruments you need.

What are the cataract surgery instruments ?

Cataract is caused by a cloudy lens that often affects the eye vision. Cataract surgery is performed by ophthalmologists to remove the clouded lens and to replace it with an artificial one. This type of surgery must be performed by a highly experienced eye surgeon using quality eye surgery tools. 

Find out more about Moria cataract surgery instruments and sets in this article.

List of instruments used for cataract surgery

How is cataract surgery performed? 

What are the cataract surgery steps with instruments ? 

Anesthesia 

Before starting the intervention, the ophthalmologist applies an anesthetic agent in the shape of eye drops or injection. The injection can be retrobulbar (behind the globe of the eye) using a retrobulbar needle or peribulbar (above and below the orbit)[1]

Incision

Once the anesthesia is completed, an incision is done. In most cases, the incision is made in the cornea as it shows many advantages : it needs less anesthesia, it allows a fast recovery and it is self-sealing, it gives the surgeon an easier access to the anterior chamber, the risks of bleeding are lower than with a scleral tunnel incision[2]

The incision is made using a blade, then a Haefliger Phaco Cleaver as example is used to prevent damaging the posterior capsule during phacoemulsification.

Capsulorhexis

Capsulorhexis, also called “continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis”, ensures the success of phacoemulsification. This procedure is performed by the surgeon during cataract surgery in order to remove the lens capsule from the eye using capsulorhexis forceps. It is done to create a circular opening in front of the bag that contains the cataract[3].

Nuclear disassembly and aspiration

Using ultrasounds, the lens is fractionated into four quadrants and each one is then aspirated. Using lateral pressure, the posterior plate and the nuclear rim are fractured. This step is performed using two instruments: a probe and a spatula.

IOL implantation

The surgeon must make sure that the capsular bag is empty. Any remaining fragment could lead to a postoperative infection. At this stage, the intraocular lens is implanted within the empty capsular bag. Use of specific instruments, such as the IOL haptic Gorovoy marker, helps to correctly position specific IOLs[4].

 

[1] ROGER F. STEINERT, MD - The basics of phacoemulsification - Cataract and refractive surgery today (En ligne) - https://crstoday.com/articles/2011-may/the-basics-of-phacoemulsification/#:~:text=The%20key%20surgical%20steps%20are,8)%20closure%20of%20the%20incision.

[2] Benedito Antônio de Sousa1, Anderson Teixeira1-3*, Camila Salaroli2, Nonato Souza2 and Lucy Gomes4 - Wound architectural analysis of 1.8mm microincision cataract surgery using spectral domain OCT - HSPC (En ligne) -  https://www.clinophthaljournal.com/articles/ijceo-aid1020.pdf 

[3]Cataract surgery steps: from start to finish - Vision and Eye Health ( En ligne ) - https://www.vision-and-eye-health.com/cataractsurgery-steps.html 

[4] Kierstan Boyd - IOL Implants: Lens Replacement After Cataracts - American Academy of Ophthalmology (En ligne) - https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/cataracts-iol-implants 

What are the risks associated with cataract surgery?

What are the risks associated with cataract surgery?

Following cataract surgery, some complications might occur such as [5]:

  • an infection due to germs getting into the eyes during the intervention
  • an inflammation characterized by an important swelling and redness in the affected eye
  • retinal detachment
  • remaining lens fragments
  • intraocular lens dislocation
  • corneal swelling
  • bleeding
  • light flashes
  • an increase of the eye pressure
  • dysphotopsia.

To avoid infectious endophthalmitis, it is important to take the antibiotics prescribed by the ophthalmologist and to wear sunglasses in order to avoid any exposure to dust and bacterias. In addition, doctors often recommend wearing an eye patch and a protective shield during the week that follows the intervention.

[5] Brandon Baartman, MD - Cataract Surgery Complications - American Academy of Ophthalmology (En ligne) - https://eyewiki.aao.org/Cataract_Surgery_Complications 

How to choose the best cataract surgery equipment?

Cataract surgery needs to be performed by experienced surgeons, using quality equipment. For a successful surgery, it is important to choose instruments made with the best materials and designs. 

Before purchasing cataract surgery instruments, one should consider some important points[1]:

  • the need for the instrument
  • a careful evaluation of the product via a clear conversation with a member of the company where the product is about to be purchased
  • the existence of a technical support service
  • whether or not the product is reusable and how often a maintenance must be carried out.


Whether you are looking for instruments designed to perform cataract surgery techniques such as phacoemulsification, stop-and-chop, bimanual and extracapsular, or if you’re willing to purchase cataract surgery sets, Moria instruments have proven to be among the best ones for more than 200 years. 

Moria is a French company that was established in France in 1820. Over the years, it has developed a special know-how for everything related to ophthalmic surgery. Moria team is made up of experts in ophthalmology that all together aim to develop instruments that ensure safe and successful surgeries. 

Moria cataract surgery instruments

Need for information?

Last update: 22/04/2024

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