Manufacturer Directory · Cataract
Phaco and Cataract Systems the consoles and lasers behind lens surgery.
Phacoemulsification consoles and femtosecond cataract lasers are capital purchases for surgeons and surgery centers. For co-managing practices they explain what appears on the operative report and why some patients ask about laser-assisted surgery.
Quick answer
Two kinds of equipment do the work.
A phaco console fragments and aspirates the lens through a small incision while managing fluidics. A femtosecond laser, when used, makes the incisions and capsulotomy and softens the lens first. Under Medicare, laser assistance alone does not change what the patient pays for the covered surgery.
Key takeaways
- Consoles combine ultrasound, fluidics and irrigation control.
- Some consoles also run vitrectomy for combined cases.
- Femtosecond lasers prepare the eye before phaco.
- Coverage is the same with or without the laser (CMS, 2012).
- Platform choice belongs to the surgeon and facility.
Phaco and cataract consoles.
Representative platforms from manufacturer materials.
| Platform | Company | Notes from the manufacturer |
|---|---|---|
| UNITY CS | Alcon | Cataract-only console; FDA 510(k) clearance announced June 2024, positioned as successor to CENTURION. |
| UNITY VCS | Alcon | Combined cataract and vitreoretinal console; optional laser for photocoagulation, iridotomy and trabeculoplasty. |
| CENTURION Vision System | Alcon | Current cataract platform that Alcon says remains available and serviceable. |
| VERITAS Vision System | Johnson & Johnson Vision | Phaco system in the J&J surgical portfolio. |
| Stellaris Elite | Bausch + Lomb | Cataract and retina platform. |
| QUATERA 700 | ZEISS | Phaco system with FDA clearance announced in 2022. |
Femtosecond lasers for cataract surgery.
These platforms prepare incisions, capsulotomy and lens fragmentation before phaco.
| Laser | Company |
|---|---|
| LenSx Laser | Alcon |
| CATALYS Precision Laser System | Johnson & Johnson Vision |
References
- Alcon. Unity VCS and Unity CS receive U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance, June 2024. BioSpace
- ZEISS. FDA clearance of QUATERA 700, 2022. ZEISS
- Johnson & Johnson Vision. Surgical vision portfolio. J&J Vision
- Bausch + Lomb. Surgical products. Bausch + Lomb
- CMS. Guidance on laser-assisted cataract surgery and Rulings 05-01 and 1536-R, 2012. CMS guidance
- Every source behind this guide is listed on the Vision Rescue sources page. All sources
About this guide
Written for licensed eye care practices by the Vision Rescue team from manufacturer, FDA, CMS and peer-reviewed sources. Questions: providers@visionrescue.com or 1-855-692-8024.
Important notes and disclosures
Information only; listings are not endorsements, and Vision Rescue is not a distributor of capital surgical equipment. Confirm U.S. availability, indications and specifications with each manufacturer. Vision Rescue is a licensed pharmaceutical wholesale distributor.
Know the platform, explain the procedure.
Patients often ask about laser cataract surgery. A clear answer on what the laser does, and what Medicare covers, keeps trust with you.
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