The Story: How We Invented Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery
It started with a decision most practices did not make: put the femtosecond laser inside the sterile surgical suite, not in a room down the hall.
Where the technique came from
The story of how the Newsom Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery technique came to exist goes back to the summer of 2008. At that time, Newsom Eye was in the planning stages of our AAAHC-accredited ambulatory surgical center, the Tampa Surgery Center.
It was during that planning that our Founder and Medical Director, T. Hunter Newsom, MD, made a forward-thinking decision that would one day lead to the invention of the technique: to place our femtosecond laser inside the sterile confines of the Tampa Surgery Center.
That single choice about where the laser lived is what made a fully bladeless workflow possible. If the laser sits outside the sterile field, the patient has to be moved mid-procedure, and the surgeon still reaches for a blade.
- Summer 2008 — during the planning of the Tampa Surgery Center.
- The laser went inside the sterile surgical suite, not down the hall.
- That made bladeless possible from the first incision to the last.
The Newsom Bladeless Laser Disc
Out of that setup came a prototype device: the Newsom Bladeless Laser Disc. It is the piece that makes the fully bladeless technique practical rather than theoretical.
Traditional cataract surgery uses bladed tools to create the micro-incisions needed to remove the lens. The Newsom technique eliminates those instruments entirely, offering patients a safer, more precise and less invasive option.
Newsom Eye has since performed more than 100,000 surgeries, and the technique developed in Tampa is now part of how our surgeons operate every week.
- A prototype disc made the fully bladeless workflow practical.
- No bladed instruments anywhere in the procedure.
- 100,000+ surgeries performed by Newsom Eye.
Frequently asked questions about the Newsom technique
When was the Newsom technique developed?
The story goes back to the summer of 2008, during the planning stages of the Tampa Surgery Center, Newsom Eye’s AAAHC-accredited ambulatory surgical center.
Who developed it?
T. Hunter Newsom, MD — Newsom Eye’s Founder and Medical Director — developed the Newsom Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery technique.
What was the key decision?
Placing the femtosecond laser inside the sterile confines of the Tampa Surgery Center rather than in a separate room. That is what made a fully bladeless workflow possible.
What is the Newsom Bladeless Laser Disc?
A device developed as part of the technique. The prototype is what made the fully bladeless approach practical in routine surgery.
How is this different from ordinary laser cataract surgery?
Many practices use a femtosecond laser for part of the procedure and still use bladed instruments for the rest. This technique was designed to eliminate the bladed instruments entirely.
Where is the technique performed?
At the AAAHC-accredited Tampa Surgery Center where it was developed. Newsom Eye operates three AAAHC-accredited surgery centers in total.
How many surgeries has Newsom Eye performed?
More than 100,000 across 25+ years of serving Florida patients.
Can I have my cataract surgery done this way?
Ask at your cataract evaluation. Your surgeon will explain what the technique involves for your eye and whether it is the right approach for you.
Five Convenient Florida Locations
Sebring
4211 US Highway 27 NSebring, FL 33870(863) 385-1544
Carrollwood
13904 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Ste 200Tampa, FL 33618(813) 908-2020
South Tampa
113 S Armenia AveTampa, FL 33609(813) 908-2020
Brooksville
14543 Cortez BlvdBrooksville, FL 34613(352) 596-4030
Gainesville
2521 NW 41 StGainesville, FL 32606(352) 377-7733
Twenty-five years of doing this differently
Book a cataract evaluation and see what that experience looks like from the patient’s side.