Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) debuted its latest advancement in patient care, Oct. 24, when ophthalmologists performed their first Femtosecond Laser-assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS) - the first ever performed at a military medical facility.

"FLACS offers many benefits over the conventional Phacoemulsification
Cataract Surgery (PCS), such as increased precision, improved effective lens positioning, and less damage to surrounding tissue. Cataract surgery has evolved greatly over the past two decades and these advances have resulted in increased safety, faster recovery, and outstanding visual outcomes providing a better experience for our patients," said Capt. Frank Bishop, lead ophthalmologist at NMCSD.

The captain also stated that FLACS uses laser energy to perform many of the steps of cataract surgery, providing surgeons with unprecedented control and accuracy.

Most modern cataract surgery is microsurgery performed by using
phacoemulsification, which requires small incisions (wounds) to the eye
using a small scalpel-like instrument, and the use of a small ultrasonic
device to break up and remove a cloudy lens, or cataract, from the eye.

In FLACS, the laser makes the wounds, and begins the process of breaking up the cataract lens. Using lasers increases the precision of these steps. Additionally, the FLACS procedure offers surgeons the ability to treat astigmatism by making precision corneal incisions that optimize eye shape and enhance vision.

For more information about FLACS at NMCSD, call (619) 532-9061 or email:
http://usn.nmcsd-pao@mail.mil.