Robotic Cataract Surgery? Or Just a Marketing Gimmick?

These days, many cataract surgery centers advertise femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery as robotic cataract surgery or laser cataract surgery. It sounds futuristic, advanced — and expensive.[expand]

But let’s pause and ask: is it really robotic?

The truth is — no.
This is not robotic surgery. A few steps like corneal incisions or lens fragmentation are done by a laser — steps that any skilled surgeon can perform efficiently and safely by hand.

Even in so-called “laser cataract surgery,” the actual cataract removal is still done by phacoemulsification — the standard, well-established technique.

Then why call it robotic or laser surgery?
It’s branding. It’s marketing. And often, it’s misleading.

Here’s what patients need to know:
• There is no significant added advantage of femtosecond laser for the average cataract patient.
• It does not replace phaco — the core part of the surgery.
• It significantly increases the cost of surgery.
• It also increases the total time of the procedure, since the patient must be shifted from one machine to another.
• In skilled hands, phacoemulsification takes just a few minutes and offers excellent outcomes.

So ask yourself — are you paying more just for a fancy label?

As a patient, you deserve truthful information, not technical jargon that creates confusion or fear. Make decisions based on facts, not flashy terms.

Let’s not let technology become a trap.
Let’s value skill over hype.
Let’s ensure our patients receive science over salesmanship[/expand]