The activities of the scientific unit are carried out in the following directions:

• elaboration of the new methods and improvement of existing methods of treatment and diagnostics;
• elaboration of the new methods of surgical treatment of the eye diseases;
• patenting, licensing of scientific and research achievements and registration of inventions and innovative suggestions.

In order to carry out scientific work connected with the purposes, the scientific clinical teams or research teams are created, which consist of the employees of the department.

Within the period of existence of the clinic, the scientific practical conferences have been held, more than 350 scientific articles have been published, 7 patents for inventions and 20 certificates for useful model have been received.

Annually, the doctors of the clinic take part in all leading congresses of the world ophthalmologist association and the European one. They make reports at the all-Russian conferences and symposia and the international ones.

Two collections of the scientific articles have been published.

At present, scientific work in the department is carried out in the following directions:

• Scientific and clinical work
  1. Surgery of cataract
     1. Laser cataract extraction:
        • «cataract extraction in the eyes with high myopia»,
        • «Laser hypermature cataract extraction».
     2. Phacoemulsification of cataract:
        • «Determination of indications for phacoemulsification in various modifications taking into consideration the initial state of the eye»;
        • «New technology of phacoemulcification and expansions of indications to it».
  2. Surgery of glaucoma
     1. «Features of glaucoma surgery in the eyes with high myopia»;
     2. «Determination of character of changes in the vascular system of the eye in case of glaucoma».
  3. Refraction anomalies, squint
     1. Scientific work topics according to the study plans of the Krasnodar Branch «Morbidity tracing - refraction anomalies with pre-school children and schoolchildren of Krasnodar Region and rehabilitation measure performance»
     2. «Complex orthoptosurgical treatment of squint»
• Scientific-research work
  1. Diabetes of the eye
     1. «Protein marker investigation at diabetic retinopathy»
  2. Inflammatory and dystrophic diseases of the eyes
     1. «Biochemistry of tear fluid at the inflammatory and dystrophic diseases of the eyes»

Cataract Extraction with the Use of a Laser

In the Intersectoral Research and Technology Complex Eye Microsurgery, a completely new way of a cataract extraction based on the laser energy use has been worked out. The method employs introduction of a laser beam into the eye cavity along a very thin light guide. Radiation interacts with the water molecules in the lens. It results in cataract splitting into the microparticles, which are sucked out through a thin aspiration tube.

High speed of operation performance is an advantage of the technology. Depending on nucleus density, laser crushing time is 1 to 3 minutes. It is possible to destroy cataract of any density degree, even the most mature and dense cataract. As the operation is carried out via the microscopic punctures, there are no distortions (perversions) of the cornea in the postoperative period as in case of the conventional cataract extraction.

That's why even in the first days after the laser operation 100% vision is restored.

Laser Cataract Extraction

We present laser cataract extraction technique:
Laser radiation is introduced into the eye cavity along 0.7 mm thin laser light guide via a pinhole in the sclera. Lens substance becomes a fine dust and is sucked out through a special thin tube, which is introduced into the eye via 1.5 mm additional puncture. The whole operation is carried out within 1.5 to 3 minutes.

During the operation the lens is destroyed layer by layer. First of all, the densest, central parts of the nucleus are fragmented; then the softest, peripheral parts of the lens are fragmented. This method provides the quickest and safest extraction of the lens masses. In the empty place, an elastic artificial lens is introduced; this lens has unique optical properties.

Fragments of the operation:

• Stage 1. Laser destruction of the densest, central parts of the lens. It is clear from the figure that the lens masses are partially destroyed. The surgeon goes on with the laser operation and divides dense part of the nucleus into separate segments.
• Stage 2.Laser destruction of the large fragments of the lens. They are sucked to the aspiration tube and are fragmented under the influence of the laser pulses.
• Stage3. Dense structures of the lens have already been destroyed. The soft cortical parts of the lens on the periphery are clearly seen.
• Stage 4.Cataract is extracted completely. All opaque cataract masses are extracted. It is proved by a red reflex - clear reflection of the fundus of the eye. A way to the light beams to the retina and the optic nerve is opened.
• Stage 5.A stage of implantation (introduction) of the artificial lens is given in the figure. We use special elastic lenses, which are rolled as tubules and are introduced into the eye cavity with the help of the special forceps. The artificial lens is placed in a capsule.