Advantages of Laser Cataract Surgery – Stephen Slade, MD
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The Advantages of Laser Cataract Surgery – By Stephen G. Slade, MD What excites Dr. Stephen Slade MD the most about femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery are the benefits that the technology offers to our patients. Safety will be enhanced by reduced phaco time and power, less surgical time in the eye, and finer, more elegant incisions, among other innovations. Precision may be increased by an exactly sized, shaped, and positioned capsulotomy that will better control the IOL’s final resting place as well as by precise, reproducible primary incisions and standardized, quantifiable astigmatic keratotomies. Femtosecond lasers could also enable and make possible many other technologies, including polymer IOLs that can be injected through a tiny capsulotomy. Most of the heated debate about femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery has not been about the capabilities of the technology, however, but rather its real-world practicality. Will patients seek it out? Is it economical? Who will pay for it? I have a unique perspective here. I have been performing laser cataract surgery commercially in Houston for nearly a year now on all of our practice’s premium IOL patients and most of our other cataract patients. Since LenSx Lasers Inc. (Aliso Viejo, CA) delivered the platform to us in February 2010, we have not been part of an FDA trial or subject to other investigational device restrictions. The laser already had 510(k) clearance for anterior capsulotomy when we received it, and clearance for incisions and lens fragmentation quickly followed. In my experience, patients easily understand and prefer “laser” cataract surgery, and they seek it out. Yes, there are added costs. This advanced technology is not covered by Medicare, however, so patients can assume these costs if they so choose. In other words, patients can elect to pay for what they decide is better care, safety, and efficiency. On January 1, 2011, the first baby boomers turned 65 and entered Medicare, with an estimated 10,000 hitting that milestone each day now. The US population over the age of 65 is projected to double in 7 years. I believe the development and availability of laser cataract surgery are right on time. This piece was adapted with permission from Dr. Stephen Slade’s editorial “Thoughts on 2010”, which appeared in Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today’s February 2011 edition.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD was the first surgeon in the United States to perform LASIK eye surgery and also has the longest experience with Bladeless LASIK or LASIK performed with two lasers including one to make the flap.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD has extensive experience and has performed LASIK and other types of refractive surgery on more than 25,000 patients from Houston and around the world.

More recently, Dr. Stephen Slade MD performed the first Laser Cataract Surgery procedure in the United States, setting a new standard in cataract care.

LASIK eye surgery pioneer Dr. Stephen Slade MD, MD, FACS is a Houston, Texas native who is a specialist in vision correction procedures.

Patients from all around the world seek the professional ophthalmology and LASIK eye surgery services of Dr. Stephen Slade MD.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD is a leading surgeon in the international community as well as in the Houston LASIK community and is a member of the Optical Express International Medical Advisory Board (IMAB).

Dr. Stephen Slade MD is an active teacher of surgical techniques and has taught and certified over 8,000 surgeons in LASIK and lamellar refractive surgery.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD‘s experience with lamellar refractive surgery began in 1980 with epikeratophakia, followed in 1983 with myopic keratomileusis.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD is a native Houstonian and attended Tulane University and the University of Texas Medical School with a final, elective year spent at Guy\’s Hospital, London, graduating Summa Cum Laude, with highest honors.

Dr. Stephen Slade MDcompleted a residency at the LSU Eye Center in New Orleans and Fellowships in corneal surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and in New York on Project ORBIS.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD is highly regarded among other Ophthalmologists and is considered to be the “Surgeon\’s Surgeon” as over 450 of his fellow eye surgeons have chosen him to perform their own eye surgery.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD is an active researcher and the United States Medical Monitor for several new technologies including the B&L Technolas and ALCON Excimer Laser Custom Vision Clinical Trials.

Dr. Stephen Slade MDhas received numerous awards including 12 named lectures, Refractive Surgeon of the Year, two China Service Medals and the Summit Technologies Pioneer of Refractive Surgery Award.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD performed the first LASIK in the United States. Later he performed the first Custom LASIK ablation based on topography in the United States and has remained on the cutting edge, having the first and longest experience with all laser LASIK, accommodating intraocular lenses for cataract surgery (crystalens) and implantable corneal contact lens.

Dr Stephen Slade was a lead investigator and presented the data to the FDA for panel approval for both the crystalens and the implantable contact lens, and as part of the trial, he implanted the first intraocular lens for presbyopia in North America.

In 2006 the American Academy of Ophthalmology and International Society of Refractive Surgery selected Stephen Slade MD for the 2007 Barraquer Award and Lecture, the top award in Refractive Surgery.

Dr Stephen Slade‘s peers have selected him for inclusion in “Top Fifty Opinion Leaders,” “Top Texas Doctors,” “Best Doctors,” and “Best Doctors in America.” He has also received the Honor Award of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and is a regular presenter at medical meetings where he has received several “Best Speaker” awards and has twice won First Place at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Film Festival.

Stephen Slade MD is on several Editorial Boards including the Journal of Refractive Surgery, has produced many articles, book chapters, holds five patents or patents pending in the field and has authored five textbooks on refractive surgery. has been featured in numerous news segments aired on CBS, ABC, NBC, UPI International and PBS as well as numerous national affiliate stations.

Dr Stephen Slade has also been quoted in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Newsweek. He was the featured surgeon on the Emmy Award- winning PBS documentary “20/10 by 2010?” narrated by Walter Cronkite.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD was the first surgeon in the United States to perform LASIK eye surgery and also has the longest experience with Bladeless LASIK or LASIK performed with two lasers including one to make the flap.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD has extensive experience and has performed LASIK and other types of refractive surgery on more than 25,000 patients from Houston and around the world.

More recently, Dr. Stephen Slade MD performed the first Laser Cataract Surgery procedure in the United States, setting a new standard in cataract care.

LASIK eye surgery pioneer Dr. Stephen Slade MD, MD, FACS is a Houston, Texas native who is a specialist in vision correction procedures.

Patients from all around the world seek the professional ophthalmology and LASIK eye surgery services of Dr. Stephen Slade MD.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD is a leading surgeon in the international community as well as in the Houston LASIK community and is a member of the Optical Express International Medical Advisory Board (IMAB).

Dr. Stephen Slade MD is an active teacher of surgical techniques and has taught and certified over 8,000 surgeons in LASIK and lamellar refractive surgery.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD‘s experience with lamellar refractive surgery began in 1980 with epikeratophakia, followed in 1983 with myopic keratomileusis.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD is a native Houstonian and attended Tulane University and the University of Texas Medical School with a final, elective year spent at Guy\’s Hospital, London, graduating Summa Cum Laude, with highest honors.

Dr. Stephen Slade MDcompleted a residency at the LSU Eye Center in New Orleans and Fellowships in corneal surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and in New York on Project ORBIS.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD is highly regarded among other Ophthalmologists and is considered to be the “Surgeon\’s Surgeon” as over 450 of his fellow eye surgeons have chosen him to perform their own eye surgery.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD is an active researcher and the United States Medical Monitor for several new technologies including the B&L Technolas and ALCON Excimer Laser Custom Vision Clinical Trials.

Dr. Stephen Slade MDhas received numerous awards including 12 named lectures, Refractive Surgeon of the Year, two China Service Medals and the Summit Technologies Pioneer of Refractive Surgery Award.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Stephen Slade MD performed the first LASIK in the United States. Later he performed the first Custom LASIK ablation based on topography in the United States and has remained on the cutting edge, having the first and longest experience with all laser LASIK, accommodating intraocular lenses for cataract surgery (crystalens) and implantable corneal contact lens.

Dr Stephen Slade was a lead investigator and presented the data to the FDA for panel approval for both the crystalens and the implantable contact lens, and as part of the trial, he implanted the first intraocular lens for presbyopia in North America.

In 2006 the American Academy of Ophthalmology and International Society of Refractive Surgery selected Stephen Slade MD for the 2007 Barraquer Award and Lecture, the top award in Refractive Surgery.

Dr Stephen Slade‘s peers have selected him for inclusion in “Top Fifty Opinion Leaders,” “Top Texas Doctors,” “Best Doctors,” and “Best Doctors in America.” He has also received the Honor Award of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and is a regular presenter at medical meetings where he has received several “Best Speaker” awards and has twice won First Place at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Film Festival.

Stephen Slade MD is on several Editorial Boards including the Journal of Refractive Surgery, has produced many articles, book chapters, holds five patents or patents pending in the field and has authored five textbooks on refractive surgery. has been featured in numerous news segments aired on CBS, ABC, NBC, UPI International and PBS as well as numerous national affiliate stations.

Dr Stephen Slade has also been quoted in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Newsweek. He was the featured surgeon on the Emmy Award- winning PBS documentary “20/10 by 2010?” narrated by Walter Cronkite.

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