Low-cost optical system for laser phacoemulsification of cataracts.

Abstract

Significance: Laser-based phacoemulsification is the preferred treatment for surgical removal of cataracts in the eye. Conventional methods of laser phacoemulsification use expensive, high-powered lasers that use femtosecond pulses to soften and emulsify cataracts, resulting in low- to middle-income countries relying on methods that lead to longer recovery times and higher rates of infection and astigmatism.

Aim: We introduce and demonstrate the potential of laser phacoemulsification using a millisecond pulsed laser that can be realized using a low-cost diode laser.

Approach: We show proof of concept for this device using computer simulations in COMSOL and with a prototype instrument tested on different tissue-simulating phantoms.

Results: Our experiments show that the millisecond pulsed laser liquifies cataract-like tissues only at the point of illumination.

Conclusions: A low-cost device for phacoemulsification can potentially reduce the burden of cataract surgeries in low-resource settings.