Morristown Ophthalmology Associates First in Morris County To Offer CATALYS® Precision Laser System for Cataract Surgery

Contact: Helene Coustan
hcoustan@gmail.com
732-682-6068

CATALYS® Press Release

Millions of people around the world live with cataracts, a common condition in which the eye’s lens becomes progressively cloudy, making vision fuzzy or filmy and normal daily living activities more difficult. Poor vision caused by cataracts cannot be corrected with glasses or contacts, but it can be treated with surgery to remove and replace the cataract. In fact, cataract surgery is one of the most widely performed procedures worldwide, estimated at 19 million cases each year.

For decades, cataract surgeons have used handheld instruments to perform some of the most challenging parts of the procedure. Today, Dr. Jeffrey Reisman is performing these steps with an FDA market cleared, laser system called CATALYS®. CATALYS® combines a femtosecond laser, 3D imaging, sophisticated software and a number of other innovative features that make the cataract procedure highly customized, gentle and significantly more precise than manual surgery. The imaging and laser portion of the treatment takes only a few minutes and causes little or no discomfort to patients. Morristown Ophthalmology Associates is first in the Morristown area to offer this unique technology.

“Patients can benefit from a truly innovative solution, that allows for unprecedented customization in cataract surgery,” said  Dr. Reisman. “When you choose to have your surgery performed with this CATALYS®, OptiMedica laser, you’ll enjoy a progressive cataract procedure which offers exquisite accuracy and precision previously not possible with manual techniques.”

Every eye has a distinct size and shape. CATALYS® & advanced 3D imaging technology customizes the cataract procedure by building a 3D map of each eye. Dr. Reisman then automatically tailors the individual patient’s treatment plan to that map.

Next, they use CATALYS® to create a circular opening in the capsule that holds the cataract. The goal in this step is to create an opening that is as circular as possible and sized to fit the replacement lens. Clinical studies have shown that CATALYS® creates these circular openings approximately 10 times more accurately than those created by hand.

The circular opening then allows the surgeon to access and remove the cataract. In the traditional manual procedure, a mechanical instrument and ultrasound energy are used during this step to break up and take out the lens. With CATALYS®, the laser softens the cataract and breaks it into tiny pieces. The new softening technique allows for more gentle removal by nearly or completely eliminating the ultrasound energy required. This low-energy approach reduces inflammation, with faster recovery expected.

Depending on the patient’s pre-operative vision and desired visual result, Dr. Reisman may recommend a tailored treatment plan with CATALYS® that could include creating ultra-precise laser incisions in the cornea and a specific lens type, such as a multi-focal lens for near and far vision. This customized treatment, in most cases, will further reduce the need for contact lenses and glasses after surgery.

“The CATALYS® laser offers more precise, gentle cataract procedure with a generally more rapid, visual recovery. It also gives us an opportunity for more tailored treatments for patients,” said Dr. Reisman.

The CATALYS® Precision Laser System was developed by global ophthalmic company OptiMedica Corp. (Sunnyvale, Calif.) in close collaboration with a Medical Advisory Board of cataract surgery experts from around the World.

Please contact Dr. Reisman to explore laser eye surgery options at his Morristown, Morris County practice at (973) 267-1113