"Portable New Procedure Helps Doctors Remove Cataracts in a Flash" – Maureen McFadden
Cataracts are an unfortunate part of aging for millions, but a new device is helping doctors remove cataracts with less risk of damaging delicate tissue. A new portable device for cataract removal is speeding recovery time and may make the procedure available to patients in countries where there have been very few treatment options. Sean Ianchulev, MD, MPH, professor of ophthalmology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and director of the ophthalmic innovation and technology program at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, helped develop the new device to more easily remove the cloudy lens. It’s called miLOOP. “It’s a microthin filament that is actually memory shaped. You can unfold it and go through a 2-millimeter incision. When you retract the button, you actually cut the cataract immediately,” he said. Dr. Ianchulev has used the device on recent humanitarian trip to Panama and Ethiopia, restoring vision to patients around the world.
— Sean Ianchulev, MD, MPH, Professor, Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Director of the Ophthalmic Innovation and Technology Program, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai