Cataracts are painless and progress gradually, compromising vision as more time goes on. If you are experiencing blurry vision because of cataracts, Drs. Edward Hedaya and Ashwinee Ragam can help. Our cataract surgery specialists use advanced methods and the best technology to help patients achieve clear vision.
Laser Cataract Surgery
As leading eye surgeons in Central New Jersey, our doctors offer the latest surgical techniques and best technology for cataract removal.
Traditional cataract surgery has been proven safe and effective. Using a laser in place of handheld instruments during certain stages of the surgery heightens safety and precision. During laser cataract surgery, Drs. Hedaya and Ragam create a detailed plan for the corneal incision using a three-dimensional image of the eye created with optical coherence tomography. Then, they use a femtosecond laser to make an incision that will seal itself after surgery, thereby reducing the risk of infection.
The next step of the procedure is the capsulotomy, in which the femtosecond laser is used to make an opening in the front portion of the lens capsule containing the cataract. Using a femtosecond laser during the capsulotomy helps not only in the removal of the cataract, but also in the subsequent positioning of the IOL. A well-positioned and centered IOL is crucial to the postoperative outcome.
Once Drs. Hedaya and Ragam have accessed the cataract, the doctors use the femtosecond laser to gently soften and fragment it. Using laser energy instead of ultrasound energy to break up the cataract reduces the risk of overheating the eye and possibly burning or distorting the incision. Laser cataract surgery may also help preserve the lens capsule, which is key to holding the IOL in its proper place.
Edward Hedaya, MD, FAAO, has over 30 years of ophthalmology experience. He trained at some of the nation’s foremost institutions for ophthalmologists, including the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, North Shore University Hospital and the New York University Medical Center. A published author and presenter at ophthalmology conferences, Dr. Hedaya has also served on the faculty of the ophthalmology department at the New York University Medical Center.
Ashwinee Ragam, MD, received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. She completed her ophthalmology residency program and a corneal surgery fellowship program at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. She has a particular passion for helping patients who suffer the effects of dry eye and other ocular surface diseases.