[Recent advances in cataract surgery]

The objective recognition of the effects and the degradation of optical function caused by an early cataract are possible using non-invasive ocular optical sensing and scattering measurement. This may help the physician to decide when cataract surgery is appropriate. Cataract surgery has evolved into an ambulatory procedure that requires minimal anesthesia and significantly improves visual function by removing the opaque crystalline lens. Bimanual or co-axial microincisional phacoemulsification cataract surgery has recently become a procedure of interest among cataract surgeons, and a number of trials have shown its potential as a minimally invasive cataract surgery. In addition, patients may have a choice about the type of synthetic lens implant that fits their visual needs. The use of aspheric IOLs for lens replacement reduces spherical aberration and therefore improves the optical quality of the eye. Bilateral multifocal IOL implantation is effective and safe in selected cataract patients, providing very good uncorrected distance and near visual acuity. Slightly reduced contrast sensitivity and increased perception of glare/halo are seem to represent an acceptable compromise for near, as well as distance vision improvement