What surgical technique is primarily used to achieve cataract removal?

Phacoemulsification is the primary surgical technique used for cataract removal because it offers several advantages over other methods. This technique involves using ultrasound energy to emulsify the cloudy lens (the cataract), which can then be aspirated out of the eye. The process allows for smaller incisions compared to traditional extracapsular cataract extraction, leading to shorter recovery times and less postoperative discomfort for the patient.

During phacoemulsification, the lens is broken down into tiny fragments using high-frequency sound waves, allowing for a minimally invasive approach. After the cataract is removed, an intraocular lens is usually implanted to restore vision, but the actual removal technique is what classifies phacoemulsification as the primary method.

Other surgical options exist, such as extracapsular cataract extraction, where a larger incision is made, and the entire lens is removed in one piece, but this is less common due to the increased risk of complications and longer recovery. Corneal transplant pertains to a different procedure altogether focused on the cornea rather than the lens. Intraocular lens implantation is a subsequent step typically performed after cataract removal rather than a technique for the removal itself.