The risk of needing cataract surgery increases with age, with around half of all people over the age of 75 needing to explore their need for this procedure. While having eye surgery might make you nervous, it helps to know that new techniques give you a better chance at having a successful outcome. When you discuss your surgery with your eye doctor, they may recommend using the Yamane sutureless technique, and knowing how it works helps you make the right decision for your care.
How Long Have Eye Doctors Been Using the Technique?
Brooklyn, NY eye specialists have been using this technique since it was first described by Dr. Shin Yasmane, which is who the procedure is named after. Before that moment, eye doctors typically used sutures or glue to seal corneal incisions. The Yamane technique involves using special thin-walled needles to place an intraocular lens in your eye. By using this technique, your eye doctor creates an incision that is self-healing, which lowers your risk of complications.
What Are the Benefits of Sutureless Eye Surgery?
Being able to perform eye surgery without using sutures provides you with several important benefits. The lack of foreign materials in your eye reduces your chances of developing infections and increases the rate of healing. When your eye doctor is experienced with using this technique, they can work more efficiently, which reduces your time in surgery. Using this IOL fixation technique also gives more reliable results for people who are at a higher risk of dealing with dislocation of the lenses.
How Does the Sutureless Yamane Technique Compare to Glue?
Glue also provides some benefits for patients needing cataract removal surgery, and it provides eye surgeons with the ability to use foldable IOLs that also allow for a smaller corneal incision. However, glue still requires a conjunctival takedown and the creation of scleral flaps, which the Yamane technique eliminates. Research has shown that visual rehabilitation is also faster in patients who receive the Yamane technique compared to those whose surgeons used glue.
What Should You Expect During the Procedure and Recovery?
The surgery itself is an outpatient procedure that is done with local anesthetic. After your doctor uses a numbing agent to prevent pain in your eye, they’ll get right to work using the best technique for your procedure. In most cases, the entire procedure is finished within under an hour, and you’ll go home to recover. Most doctors prefer to do one eye at a time, which means that you may need to return to their office for your other eye surgery once the first one heals. Since sutureless surgeries heal faster, choosing this option can help you correct your vision in both of your eyes sooner.
As with any surgical procedure, you need to know that you are in competent hands. Choosing a retinal specialist that has years of training and experience helps you achieve the best outcome. Plus, you’ll feel more confident on the day of your surgery when you know that you are working with an experienced ophthalmologist that prioritizes your eye health.