Cataract surgery gets robotic hand for better precision

Speaking about CATALYS — Robotic Laser Cataract Surgery System, on the sidelines of its preview, Dr Arulmozhi Varman, Ophthalmic surgeon, Uma Eye Clinic, said that the system would bring accuracy to the procedure. There are currently four companies offering the technology, however, the American one is considered to be the best among them. 

Dr Arulmozhi said, “It is a robotic surgery using laser. The existing cataract surgery procedure involves a human hand precision of 1 mm to 2 mm. With CATALYS, the precision goes up to 1 to 2 microns. It guarantees a significant degree of accuracy over the other procedure and it is beyond what a human hand can do. It also reduces the effects of ultrasound probe which is used to break up the lens for removal. It gives better and faster results,” he says. 

The technology is being introduced for the first time in the state. Dr Arulmozhi added that CATALYS would increase the cost of the procedure by Rs 50,000 to Rs 65,000. A cataract surgery for one eye can cost up to Rs 70,000 depending on the lens. 

There are conventional surgery procedures and Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS) procedure options available. CATALYS will be launched on Sunday by Dr HV Hande, Former Health Minister, Tamil Nadu.