On Monday I got to see about 6 cataract surgeries. Cataracts are very common and everyone develops them. I did not realize how common this type of surgery was until I got here. I watched a couple of cataract surgeries last week so I had an idea about what to expect this time. However, this week was the first time that I got to see laser-assisted cataract surgeries, which means that the cataract was broken up into pieces before the surgery actually started. This makes it easier for the surgeons to remove the cataract. The femtosecond laser can break the lens into 4 or 6 pie shaped slices so it is easier to remove. They just got this machine so it was cool to see it being tested. After the cataract is removed, an intraocular lens (IOL) is then inserted into the eye. These lenses can come with a prescription which reduces the patient’s need for glasses after the surgery. One of the newest IOLs that I just learned about this week was the Tecnis Symfony lens which is a type of multifocal IOL that can help patients see far away and up close.
I also got to see more clinics this week as well. About twice a month, Dr. Brissette has a Dry Eye Disease clinic where most of the patient’s that she sees that day have Dry Eye disease. There are several different ways that they can test the patients for Dry Eye disease. One way is by using the LipiView machine that takes a picture of the patient’s Meibomian glands, which are the oil-producing glands that help to lubricate the eye. These glands can get clogged up and disappear over time and when they disappear it is impossible for them to be recovered. I was also able to get my Meibomian glands pictured as well. It was really cool to be on the other side and see my results from this test.
I am having a great time here learning about the different procedures that the doctors use to treat the patients and I am excited to continue to learn more about these procedures in the coming weeks.
No comments:
Post a Comment