What are Cataracts?
Cataract is a condition in which the lens of the eye gradually becomes cloudy and reduces the amount of light entering the eye, resulting in a gradual deterioration of vision.
Fortunately, eye cataracts are highly treatable. With modern surgical technology, cataracts can be removed effectively with a safe procedure, allowing you to see more clearly again.
What Causes Cataracts?
A cataract is usually caused by the natural ageing process and occurs eventually in every elderly person, with 60% of the population experiencing this when they enter their 60s. It could sometimes also be caused by:
- Excessive UV light exposure
- Certain medical conditions e.g. diabetes
- Previous eye injury
- Chronic inflammation in the eye, i.e. uveitis
- Long-term use of specific medications, e.g. steroids
- A family history of cataracts, especially for cataracts which develop at an early age
Do You Experience
Any of These Signs of Cataracts?
- Gradual blurring of vision that cannot be corrected despite wearing spectacles
- Misty or foggy vision, things appear to be less in focus
- Colours seem faded and things appear less bright, i.e. reduced contrast
- Difficulty recognizing faces
- Glares and halos around lights (e.g., from oncoming vehicles)
- Difficulty with distance, intermediate or near vision
- Poor night vision
- A continued change in spectacle prescription may signify the progression of the cataract
- A new ability for near tasks (e.g., reading), when previously unable to do so. This rather unexpected symptom happens when individuals who are shortsighted and presbyopic (lao hua) develop a cataract, as the cataract negates the effect of the presbyopia.
How are Cataracts Treated?
Cataract treatment is usually recommended when the cataract is impairing vision and daily activities. Cataracts may also need to be removed through surgery if it is very dense and likely to cause complications such as angle closure disease, which is the broader spectrum of conditions including primary angle closure glaucoma.
Cataract surgery is a safe, micro-incision, key-hole type procedure, performed under local anaesthetic eye drops. During the procedure, the cataractous lens is removed in a process that usually takes less than 30 minutes.
This is a day surgery procedure with a relatively fast recovery – patients can resume most of their regular activities within a few days of the surgery. As with all surgical procedures, there can be some risks, which your surgeon will explain in detail prior to the surgery.
Modern cataract surgery is termed phacoemulsification, which is the preferred surgical technique for removing cataracts as it can be performed with smaller incisions compared with previous methods. The procedure is as follows:
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A small incision, about 2mm to 3mm, is made at the edge of the cornea. The cataract is broken into small pieces with a phacoemulsification probe
02
The cataract is then gently removed from the eye by suction
03
An artificial lens, also known as intraocular lens (IOL), is then implanted immediately and the wound often seals on its own without the need for stitches.
3 simple steps to getting your Cataract Surgery
Schedule for your eye examination and consultation with our cataract specialist
Decide and choose your surgery date
Get your surgery done in 3 to 5 days
Selecting The Right Intraocular Lens For You
During the cataract surgery, your clouded lens will be replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL), which takes on the function of the natural crystalline lens. There is a wide array of intraocular lenses available, mainly categorised into 3 types – monofocal IOL, multifocal IOL and toric IOL – each with its benefits. After a joint discussion with you, our eye specialist will select an IOL suited for the needs of your eye (a specific prescription will be chosen to allow you to achieve good vision).
Read more about the benefits of each Intraocular Lens (IOL) and for whom each type of IOL is suitable in this article.
Why LSC Eye Clinic
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| Appointment making is easy and fast | Experienced eye specialists to care for you | Conveniently located right at the heart of Orchard | Over 15 years of helping patients care for their eyes |
Frequently Asked Questions
*This information is not intended to replace consultation with your eye doctor.
Cataract surgery is a safe procedure and most patients go on to enjoy much improved vision. As with all medical treatments, post-procedure complications may occur and your surgeon will discuss the main risks of surgery with you.
If you have cataracts in both eyes, our eye specialist will operate one eye at a time. The treatment for the second eye will be scheduled at least 1 to 2 months apart (when the vision of the other eye is already stable and is free of infections and issues).
As cataract surgery is a day surgery, you will be going home after your procedure. Therefore, do have a friend or family member to accompany you home from the clinic after. Upon reaching home, rest your eyes as much as possible, taking care to avoid the use of mobile phones and watching TV, as your operated eye will feel tired and gritty.Thereafter, your vision might be slightly misty for two to three days after surgery. It typically takes a few days for your eye to adjust after the operation and to experience an improvement in how you see. Read more on all you need to know about cataract surgery.
Before the surgery, anaesthetic eye drops will be used to numb the eye. Some sedation may be given as well, to help you stay as nicely relaxed as possible. During the surgery, a device will be used to support your eyelid to prevent it from moving or closing. You can expect to feel some coldness over your eye from the water, and you hear some whirring noises. There is usually no significant pain but you may be dazzled by light during the procedure and experience vision change as the surgery proceeds. The surgery will take approximately under 30 minutes.
Do have a friend or relative to accompany you home. Your eye will feel tired and gritty for the rest of the day so we advise you to stay at home and rest as much as possible, and to avoid too much hand-held electronic devices o television. Your vision will be slightly misty for the first 2 – 3 days. It can take a few days for the eye to adjust and for vision to improve.
In individuals who have done LASIK previously, there is a reduction in the predictability of the treatment outcome for cataracts, due to the cornea curvature. However, our specialists are experienced to manage such cases.
Also, apart from the general cataract condition, there is a wide range of unique and complicated cases such as post-traumatic, subluxed, posterior polar and phacomorphic cataracts. At LSC Eye Clinic, we manage such conditions too.
Payment Options
We Accept Cash, Nets, and Major Credit Cards:
Medisave
Cataract surgery and other eye procedures are Medisave claimable.
Our clinic is able to assist with your claim.
Most private insurance providers also cover cataract surgery claims.
Insurance
We are on the specialist panels of various Insurance Plans:
Meet Our Doctor
Dr Daphne Han
Medical Director and Senior Consultant
Ophthalmologist
MBBS (Melbourne), MMed (NUS), FRCS (Edinburgh), FAMS (Ophthalmology)
Subspecialty:
Laser Vision Correction and Lens Implant Surgery
Our Cataract Specialists are Experienced in
Complex and Post-Lasik Cataract Cases
Apart from the general cataract condition, there is also a wide range of unique and complicated cases such as post-traumatic, subluxed, posterior polar and phacomorphic cataracts.
In individuals who have done LASIK previously, there is a reduction in the predictability of the treatment outcome for cataracts, due to the cornea curvature. Our specialists are experienced with the right skillset to manage these conditions.
