Cataract Treatment: Removing the Cloudy Lens

To remove the cloudy lens, your eye doctor will make an incision in your eye. The size of the incision depends on the procedure used to remove the lens. The most common methods for removing cataracts are phacoemulsification and extracapsular extraction.

Phacoemulsification

After a small incision is made in the cornea or sclera, your eye doctor makes a hole in the anterior capsule. An ultrasound probe is then inserted into the lens. Sound vibrations from the probe break the cloudy lens into tiny pieces, which are then suctioned out. After the procedure, stitches are not usually needed to close the incision.

Extracapsular Extraction

Some eye doctors use extracapsular extraction to remove the cloudy lens. This method requires a large incision so the entire lens can be removed at once. Afterward, stitches are used to close the incision.