Why More Patients Are Choosing Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery

In the world of medicine, 15 years is an awfully long time… But that’s the timeline since laser-assisted cataract surgery was granted FDA approval in the US (in 2010), introducing the platform for ever-advancing intraocular lenses (IOLs) and precision eye surgery for even the most complex of cases.

But… If the laser cataract surgery benefits are so great, why is it only in recent years that more patients are now opting for it?

There are two main reasons for this. The first is the slightly unpalatable, but age-old, reason… Cost. 

Medicare and most insurance policies only cover traditional procedures and the associated monofocal lens that goes with it. If you want a more advanced IOL, which can only be done through a laser-assisted procedure, then you’ll have to pay the difference.

But the second reason—and, perhaps the one that, as leaders in the world of cataract surgery, pains us the most—is that many people simply didn’t know that the advanced option existed.

The Case for Laser vs Manual Cataract Surgery

In 2025, the number of laser vs. manual procedures is sitting somewhere upwards of 21-23%. Yep, that’s right, despite 15 years of the procedure being available and the incredible benefits it brings, the vast majority of operations are still performed using the traditional method.

But the tide is beginning to turn… As internet-savvy Gen X-ers reach the time of life when age-related cataracts are beginning to need treating and, crucially, are the first generation that, thanks to a lifetime of great medical care, are not ready or prepared to enter old age quite yet, so too is the demand for a life with the best vision possible.

Gone are the days when hitting 55+ meant taking it easy. Instead, Gen X is hiking, sailing, diving, golfing, horse riding… Heck, they’re jumping out of airplanes, scaling mountains, hitting the bluebird powder days, or giving the grandkids their first surf lesson. In other words, this is a demographic that wants—indeed, demands—the perks that a laser-assisted cataract operation can bring. This is leading the trend towards patients requiring IOLs that restore vision without the need for eyeglasses and the freedom that brings.

Training and More Affordable Technology

In addition to patients being better informed, more surgeons are undergoing the training needed to carry out laser-assisted procedures. Indeed, virtually all cataract surgical professionals believe that what is today still considered an “advanced” procedure will become the norm over the next decade or so. This, coupled with more affordable equipment to perform laser-assisted cataract surgeries, is helping drive the change.

With this belief comes education—both for cataract surgeons and their patients. This means that there’s more discussion about options, such as the different types of IOLs available. Today’s cataract patients are far more likely to do a little digging into the art of the possible (courtesy of Dr. Google) than their parents and grandparents. It’s also far easier to drive or hop on a plane to take advantage of a cataract surgeon who offers such advanced, precision eye surgery than it was for previous generations.

This is something we know first-hand at the Modern Cataract Surgery Clinic. Many of our patients want the benefits of the latest IOLs, such as Toric lenses that correct astigmatism, multi-focus ones that use the natural eye muscles for all-distance vision, or cutting-edge options that can have the prescription altered while in the eye. And for that, they’re prepared to travel to get what they want.

More and more people are investing in their quality of life, with eyesight being one area that most people are not prepared to compromise. 

Ready to find out more?

Head to https://www.moderncataractsurgery.com/ and explore the art of the possible. It really could be the most life-changing decision you make today…