Jingl, I had this done last year. The eye consultant told me that when they remove the original cloudy lens they cut the natural lens capsule, take out the contents and place the artificial lens in the natural capsule. Sometimes the lens capsule then gets cloudy so they cut a hole in the centre removing the cloudy section, or at least that is what I understood I was being told.
The equipment that was used is a bit like the equipment they use at the opticians for glaucoma tests. You sit on a seat with your chin resting on a rest then the surgeon holds your eye open and zaps it a number of times with the laser. I cannot remember whether I had any anaesthetic in my eye. The process was uncomfortable but not painful and was done in little bursts and took about 10 minutes. I was prescribed eye drops to be used for a few days afterwards. There was no eye patch or other protection and although I was advised not to drive myself home afterwards, I was told there would be no problem driving the following day.