Most Advanced Laser For Cataract Surgery

SAN LEANDRO, Calif., April 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wasn't going to go through another tax season like this."  Those were the words of 62-year-old Angela Burgess as she struggled to read the tax returns of her clients.  A tax preparer, Angela found it nearly impossible to read, drive, or even cook because of the opaque (advanced), cataract she had in the right eye. Then she met Dr. Nicholas Batra, a cornea specialist and Medical Director of Batra Vision Medical Group in San Leandro, California where her life was changed forever.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130408/LA89726)

Dr. Batra is one of only two Northern California eye surgeons to offer his patients the revolutionary LenSx^® Laser for their cataract surgery.  Patients with myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia can have excellent vision restored without needing glasses after a custom laser cataract treatment with the LenSx^®.  Dr. Batra selected the LenSx^® because he says, "it is the most advanced of any laser for cataract surgery to date, and it ensures the best possible outcomes for my patients". The LenSx^{® is} the first and most highly developed, precision laser for cataract surgery to be approved by the FDA.  Dr. Batra adds, that this femtosecond laser allows surgeons to control the four most critical aspects of the procedure, which enable them to provide patients with crystal clear vision:

• Creating a perfectly round and precisely sized capsulotomy (Opening in the cataract lens capsule)
• Pre-softening and breaking up of the cataract
• Creation of primary incision
• For Refractive Cataract Surgery, making very precisely shaped and configured depth incisions in the edge of the cornea to reduce pre-existing astigmatism (LRI – Limbal Relaxing Incisions).

HOW IT WORKS:

The LenSx^® works by measuring the cornea and the crystalline lens so the incisions are precise.  Once the images are computed, and the lens is pre-softened by the laser, the first incision in the cornea is made so the cataract can be removed using ultrasound.  Since the laser has pre-softened the cataract, less energy must be used, thereby making the process safer for the patient.  The laser creates a perfectly round capsulotomy to hold the new, replacement lens.

This lens can be a single-vision intraocular lens to correct myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness).  Multi-vision Intraocular Lenses can provide both near and far vision for patients who don't want to wear glasses.  For the patients with astigmatism, the Toric Intraocular lens is used for correction.

When a patient has astigmatism and has selected a multi-vision IOL, the LenSx^® laser will make precisely shaped and configured depth incisions in the edge of the cornea to reduce the pre-existing astigmatism.  These are called Limbal Relaxing Incisions.

Dr. Batra couples the LenSx^® Laser with the ORA™, another revolutionary technology that only a handful of ophthalmologists in the country have, to help ensure his patients have the very best vision possible. The precise ORA™ allows Dr. Batra to capture an image of the patient's eye in "real time." This verifies the Intraocular Lens prescription at the time of surgery. Most patients don't need glasses after surgery.

"LenSx^® has over 95 percent accuracy when combined with WaveTec™ ORA™, compared to using traditional cutting cataract surgery, which is only 50 percent. This percentage allows the patient to be free of glasses. This is a major leap in the world of ophthalmology," states Dr. Batra.

Journal of Refractive Surgery, December 2009:

"Femtosecond lasers represent an important technological advance in ophthalmic surgery. Combined with computer-controlled optical delivery systems, femtosecond can produce precise incisions without collateral damage to surrounding tissues. The precision of femtosecond lasers exceed that of highly sophisticated mechanical devices, with few collateral tissue effects." 

Dr. Batra says LenSx^® patients have faster recovery, less chance of complications, and better outcomes.  With the LenSx^® Laser, cataract surgery is more precise, generally takes 15 minutes to complete and patients are back to their daily activities in one to two days. 

Angela Burgess says her experience with the Batra Vision Medical Group was outstanding.  The nurse held her hand during surgery and she felt protected in their care because they have the latest technology.  After her surgery, Angela was overwhelmed, "I saw bright colors!  I thought, 'this is what heaven must be like.' I cried with joy." Angela plans to have the cataract in her right eye removed soon, is excited and planning a trip to see the snow, with new eyes.

Most health insurance and Medicare pay for cataract removal and standard lenses.

CATARACT FACTS:

According to the National Institute of Health, more than 22 million Americans have cataracts, which are the leading cause of blindness in the world, and 50 percent of people will develop cataracts by age 80.

A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye. A normal lens is clear and focuses light to the back of the eye. As we age, the lens hardens and becomes cloudy, blocking some of the light. As a cataract develops, it becomes increasingly difficult for a person to see.

Symptoms of cataracts include:

• Blurry vision
• Colors that seem faded
• Glare
• Inability to see well at night
• Double vision
• Frequent prescription changes in glasses/contacts

Once a cataract develops, there are no drops or medications that will stop its progress.  A cataract can only be removed surgically, and the lens replaced with an Intraocular Lens.

Nicholas Batra, M.D. is a Corneal Fellow and Medical Director of the Batra Vision Medical Group in San Leandro, California.  He developed his passion for preserving vision early in his life when his grandmother developed a severe ocular infection that led to the removal of her eye.  Dr. Batra carries that memory and works hard to preserve and enhance the eyesight of each of his patients.

Educated at Dartmouth, Dr. Batra received his Doctorate of Medicine from UCLA.  He completed his ophthalmology residency at University of California, San Francisco where he holds several surgical records, and he was the first resident at UCSF to perform LASIK surgery.

Dr. Batra received a fellowship from UCSF/Proctor Foundation in Cornea and Refractive surgery and was a Fellow and the Heed Foundation.

~  www.batravision.com ~

Contact Linda Zanides:
415.456.8171
Zanides Public Relations

SOURCE Batra Vision Medical Group