Cataract Surgery
Restore your vision with microsurgical cataract surgery with premium lenses including toric, extended depth of focus and multifocal lenses.
About Cataract Surgery
Dr Ang is a highly experienced cataract surgeon who takes a personalised approach and uses the latest technology to optimise each patient’s visual outcome. Dr Ang’s expertise in cataract surgery means she is invited to present locally and internationally about the latest in cataract technology. She’s invited to use the latest technology, and was the first surgeon in the Asia Pacific region to implant the Synergy trifocal intraocular lens.
You can expect a thorough assessment with consultation discussing your visual needs, planned approach in choosing your intraocular lens, and meticulous surgery. Dr Ang uses the:
Latest diagnostic tools and measurements
Latest surgical technology including computer-guided phaco surgery
Latest designs of intraocular lenses including toric, enhanced monofocal, extended depth-of-focus, and multifocal lenses
What is a cataract?
A cataract is the natural clouding or opacity of the lens. This is a normal ageing process of the lens, and most of us will develop cataracts at some stage of our life. As the lens becomes more cloudy and dense, this can reduce your vision and lead to symptoms such as:
Blurry vision and glare
Difficulty with night driving and night glare
Difficulty with reading and small print
Rapid changes in your glasses prescription
How is cataract surgery performed?
Cataract surgery is a day surgery procedure and takes about 10 minutes under local anaesthesia and intravenous sedation. Each eye is done on separate visits.
The surgery involves making small, self-sealing incisions in the cornea. The lens is removed by a high frequency ultrasound process called phacoemulsification, and the new intraocular lens in inserted into the eye. A clear plastic shield will be placed on your eye at the end of surgery.
Modern cataract surgery has high success rates and most people are very happy with the results. However, as with any surgery there is a degree of risk of possibility of complications. These will be discussed with you and include: infection, inflammation, capsular tear, dropped nucleus or refractive surprise.
What type of intraocular lens (IOL) implant will be used?
On the day of your consultation with Dr Ang you will have multiple measurements taken of your eyes. This information is used to accurately calculate what lens should be inserted into your eyes. The lens can be customised to your needs so that it incorporates your glasses script. The lens can correct myopia (near sightedness), hyperopia (far sightedness), astigmatism, and possibly presbyopia. The intraocular lens that is inserted into your eye lasts a lifetime and will not need to be replaced.
Dr Ang utilises the latest designs in IOLs including:
Monofocal lenses - Monofocal IOLs provide clear vision at distance, intermediate or near ranges — but not all three at once. Toric IOLs to correct astigmatism also are classified as monofocal IOLs. There is a new design of enhanced monofocal IOL as well.
Monovision - This is where a monofocal IOL is placed in one eye for distance vision, and in the other eye for intermediate or near vision.
Extended depth of focus lenses - These lenses provide a continuous range of vision from distance to intermediate.
Multifocal lenses - Trifocal lenses are highly specific and provide clear vision at distance, intermediate, and near vision.
Dr Ang will discuss with you the options during the preoperative consultation. Not all eyes may be suitable for a particular lens, and the choice also depends on your visual needs. There are pros and cons of each lens type, and Dr Ang will recommend what she feels is the best option for your eyes and for you.
What is the recovery like after cataract surgery?
The recovery after cataract surgery is very quick and most people are already seeing much better the next day. The vision continues to improve over the next few days and stabilise over the next few weeks. There may be some temporary visual phenomena such as shimmering or flickering on the side your vision, some glare, or a ‘scratchy’ sensation as the eye heals.
You will have a clear plastic shield placed on your eye after surgery, and this can be removed the following morning. There will also be some medicated drops for you to use for several weeks after the surgery.