Eye surgeons were dreaming since decades about finding a way to treat cataract ( abnormal eye lens densities leading to decreased lens transparency ) with the least trauma and surgical incision , that would allow the patient to move and do the usual daily work , quickly after the operation .
This dream came true with the invention of the Phaco instrument which is used nowadays to perform more than 85% of cataract operations .

Phaco:

This instrument emits ultrasound waves with a frequency of 40000 / sec which leads to the break down of cataract and then it is resorbed and the operation ends without stitching !

To sum up, this technique achieved the following :

1 – Swift cataract cure with very short convalescence period .
2 - The technique could be used to treat early stage cataract .
3 - The operation is done under local anesthesia and with a surgical incision of 3 to 3.2 mm in comparison with the previous classical surgical operations which needed an incision of about 6 to 8 mm , which means much less eye trauma.