Cataract

Cataract is the clouding of the natural lens in the eye, resulting in blurred vision. It is a very common problem, accounting for half the cases of blindness worldwide.

Symptoms

• blurred vision
• glare and difficulty seeing especially in bright or dim light conditions
• fluctuating or increasing spectacle power
• double images that persist when one eye is covered

Treatment

• glasses can improve vision in early cataracts
• surgery is required to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an intraocular lens implant in established cataracts
• surgery is recommended once the patient is symptomatic for cataract (no need to wait for the cataract to be very “ripe” before considering surgery)

Cataract Surgery

• takes approximately 20mins to perform
• is a day surgery procedure (no need for hospital overnight stay)
• can be done under topical anaesthesia (no need for injections around the eye)
• in the hands of an experienced surgeon, is a safe and effective procedure
• Medisave can be used for part of the surgery costs
• insurance can be used for part or all of surgery costs (depending on your insurance plan)

Intraocular Lens Implants (IOLs)

• Monofocal IOLs give good vision for distance but do not correct astigmatism or presbyopia (glasses still required for reading and may be required for good distance vision)
• Toric IOLs give good distance vision for patients with astigmatism but do not correct for presbyopia (glasses required for reading only)
• Multifocal IOLs give good vision at all distance ranges (patient is glasses free most or all of the time)
• IOL selection is individualised to patient’s requirements, and a detailed discussion with Dr Chan is required to determine the best IOL to suit your needs