In India, cataract has been reported to be responsible for 50-80% of the bilaterally blind in the country. The country’s efforts supplemented by a world bank-assisted cataract blindness control project which was launched in India in 1994, have since, significantly reduced incidence of cataracts. The thrust on widespread screening of cataracts and timely surgeries have restored sights in many. From around 1.2 million cataract surgeries per year in the 1980s, the cataract surgical output increased to 3.9 million per year by 2003. Now, as per reports, India conducts on an average 6.5 million cataract removal surgeries every year under the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) and close to 8.34 million successful cataract surgeries have been carried out in 2022-23 alone. All of this means that in the past 2-3 decades number of centers in the country providing facilities for cataract surgeries have increased exponentially. Cataract surgeries are the most common surgeries done in an eye hospital. What is the basic set of medical equipment for cataract surgery one needs in a hospital?
Basic Ophthal Surgical Set-up
For a well-equipped surgical facility performing cataract surgeries a hospital requires a comprehensive set of pre-surgical, surgical and post-surgical equipment. The top 4 medical equipment required for a cataract surgery facility are Phaco-emulsification machine, ophthalmic surgical microscope, A-scan machine and ophthalmic yag laser.
- A-Scan machine / B-Scan machine
A-Scan machine is arguably, one of the most important machines in cataract surgery. A-scan ultrasound is most commonly used for measurement of axial length (AL), crucial for intraocular lens (IOL) calculations before cataract surgery. If accurate measurement of the eye’s Axial Length is not done, the patient may have to wear corrective eyeglasses, after cataract surgery.
An A-scan has other uses as well such as, to determine the ultrasonic properties (i.e., high internal reflectivity, low internal reflectivity) and size of posterior segment masses, which is used in conjunction with B-scan imaging to detect different types of lesions.
Popular A-Scan machine models are, A-Scan G-Matronix, Matrix, Biomedix Echorule, Sonomed Pacscan, Keeler Accutome, Souer A-scan, Quantel Medical Axis Li etc.
Optical biometry machines are also used for measurement of Axial length (AL) and with better accuracy as compared to A-scan machines. Popular Optical Biometry models – Carl Zeiss IOL Master, Haag-Streit Lenstar. Zeiss IOL Master introduced and established the optical biometry and is considered the gold standard by many.
Biggest advantage of A-scan machine over optical biometry is its affordability. An A-scan machine is especially useful in patients with mature or dense posterior subcapsular cataracts and central corneal scars. To know more about difference between an A-scan machine and optical biometer read
https://www.primedeq.com/blog/ultrasound-a-scan-vs-optical-biometry-a-comparison/
- Phacoemulsification for Cataract removal
Phacoemulsification is the most popularly used cataract surgery procedure in which the eye’s internal lens that has developed cataract, is emulsified with an ultrasonic hand-piece and aspirated from the eye. An intraocular lens (IOL) is then inserted in place. Hence of all the equipment for cataract surgery, a phaco machine used for this purpose is the most basic requirement. Popular models of phaco machine are Alcon, Zeiss, Oertli etc.
- Ophthalmic microscope
All types of ophthalmic surgeries such as phaco-emulsification are done under an operating microscope that are designed to provide high contrast and detailed imaging of all regions of the human eye.
Popular models of ophthalmic surgical microscopes are Leica, Zeiss …
- Ophthalmic Yag Laser
A yag laser may not be an equipment for cataract surgery, but a very important post-surgical machine. During a cataract operation, a new plastic lens is put inside the lens membrane (called the bag or capsule) in eye, after removing the clouded original lens. In some patients, the capsule may thicken after surgery and become cloudy within a couple of year or a few months, blocking light from reaching the retina. In a Yag laser capsulotomy a laser beam is applied to the capsule creating a small hole in the centre of the capsule, to remove the obstruction. This is done as a walk-in procedure in the OPD setting.
Other basic medical equipment for cataract surgery
The OT and recovery set up
A typical surgical set-up apart from the main equipment like Phaco machine and operating microscope include other general operating theater equipment like, OT Table, anesthesia machine, suction apparatus, multi-para patient monitor, ECG machine, sterilization equipment (such as table-top and/or vertical autoclave and bins), sealing machine, scrub sinks, fogging machine, operating instruments, OT Light/ Spot light, instrument trolleys/stands, patient trolley and a few recovery beds. The OT needs to be a highly sterile environment with low cost and easy to maintain epoxy floors and walls and anti-bacterial paint for the roof.
Slit Lamp examination for cataract screening and detection
For a cataract screening facility at the least a slit lamp is a must in the OPD. The slit lamp exam helps do a comprehensive eye exam. The doctor can use this instrument to observe the eyes in detail and determine existence of any of large number of abnormalities.
What does a slit lamp exam show? A slit lamp exam shows the ophthalmologist the various structures within the eyes, including the Conjunctiva, Cornea, Eyelids, Iris, Pupil, Lens, Sclera and the Retina. A range of conditions can be detected by carrying out a slit lamp exam, such as:
- cataracts,
- corneal injury/ disease
- damage to the sclera
- a detachment of the retina
- damage to the retina or the blood vessels connected to it
- macular degeneration
- disease or swelling of the middle layer of the eye
- glaucoma
- bleeding or presence of foreign body in the eye
Looking for complete List of OPD, Diagnostic and Surgical equipment for setting up a Eye Hospital? Read more
What are the medical equipment required to start an eye hospital?
PrimedeQ is an e-Marketplace for buying, selling, renting, servicing and spares of medical equipment. We offer all types of used / refurbished medical equipment , including A-Scan machine, Autorefractor, Phaco machine, other ophthal equipment, endoscopes, OT equipment, Laparoscopic Equipment, Lab equipment, X-Ray, TMT, ECG, anesthesia machine, ultrasound machines etc. We offer microdebrider, laparoscope , endoscope and ultrasound probe and A-Scan repair services etc.
Contact us on +917019759765 for buying, selling or servicing of all equipment for cataract surgery and any other ophthal equipment.
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