CATARACT SURGERY

Cataract Surgery

Surgery is the only effective treatment for removing cataracts. The procedure involves the removal of the clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial one known as an Intraocular Lens (IOL) to restore clear vision. Cataract surgery in Singapore is performed on an out-patient basis and does not require an overnight stay in the hospital. Here at Atlas Eye, we perform the following 2 cataract treatment procedures:

1 Micro-incision Phacoemulsification Surgery

Micro-incision phacoemulsification uses ultrasound energy to liquify the cataract enabling the emulsified cataract to be removed through a small wound. With incision sizes of between 2 and 3mm in width, stitches are usually not required as the wounds are self-sealing, allowing for greater comfort and improved speed of recovery.

2 Laser-assisted Cataract Surgery

The procedure holds potential as the next phase in the development of minimally invasive cataract treatment. Laser energy is used to automate some of the more difficult steps of the surgery. It aims to reduce ultrasound power utilisation, improve wound construction, provide greater predictability in lens positioning and advantages in some forms of complex cataract operation.

Intraocular Lens Types

The Intraocular Lenses available for cataract surgery fall under the following classifications:

• Monofocal lens: This will only fix issues in one segment of your visual range (usually distance vision) and are used for patients who do not mind continuing to use glasses for specific tasks such as reading.
• Multifocal lens: This corrects short-sightedness/long-sightedness and presbyopia at the same time and therefore can potentially eliminate the need for glasses altogether.

Note that both monofocal and multifocal lenses can correct moderate to high corneal astigmatism if they incorporate toric lens design; having different powers in different meridians of the lens.