Cataract Surgery Add-Ons: LenSx® Laser & ORA® System
Standard cataract surgery is covered by insurance, and it works well for most people. Some patients choose add-ons: technologies that insurance doesn’t cover and that are billed separately. This page explains what each one does and who it tends to help. Many patients don’t need any add-ons. Your surgeon will tell you if they recommend one, and why.
Not sure you need an add-on?
Your surgeon will look at your eyes and tell you which, if any, would actually help.
In this Page
LenSx® Laser by Alcon
In standard surgery, your surgeon makes the incisions and opens the lens capsule by hand. With the LenSx® Laser, a femtosecond laser handles those steps and can soften the cataract before it’s removed. It can also make small incisions in the cornea to reduce mild astigmatism.
The laser is very precise, but studies haven’t shown that it gives better vision overall than traditional surgery.
ORA® System by Alcon
Before surgery, your eye is measured to choose your lens power. The ORA® system takes a second set of measurements during surgery, after the cataract is removed, so your surgeon can confirm the lens power and fine-tune the alignment of a toric lens before you leave the operating room.
For most eyes, the measurements taken before surgery are already very accurate. ORA® is most useful when they’re harder to rely on: after LASIK, PRK, or RK, with very high nearsightedness or farsightedness, or when placing a toric lens.
Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) by RxSight
An intraocular lens your surgeon can adjust after your eye heals, through a short series of in-office light treatments. Learn more about the Light Adjustable Lens →
Ready to talk through your options?
At your cataract consultation, your surgeon can recommend what makes sense for your eyes and go over your total cost.
