Cataract Surgery

All my patients after cataract surgery see very well (6/6) on the first day after surgery. Although I tell my patients that they can expect a further improvement in their vision in the first week, most of them already do see very well from day 1. Most patients feel completely normal in the first week after cataract surgery. They can resume most of their normal activities except for strenuous sports and swimming with their head underwater. Complete recovery is 1 month after surgery as the wound takes time to heal.

Before your cataract surgery, your eye doctor would have discussed with you at length the type of intraocular lens that will be implanted in your eye. In addition, your eye doctor would have made detailed measurements and calculations of your eye in order to determine the best power for your lens implant. Leading up to cataract surgery, your eye doctor will prescribe some eyedrops for you to put in your operated eye 2-3 days before surgery. These eyedrops include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eyedrops to prep your eye before surgery.

All of my patients whom I’ve operated on for cataract surgery experience no pain whatsoever. This is because the wound is very small (less than 2 mm in size) and the incision is performed where there are no pain (nerve) fibres. It is also important for your eye surgeon to be extra gentle and careful during the surgery. During the surgery, my patients do not experience any pain because they will be sedated comfortably. What they experience is a short nap, and upon waking up, the surgery is over.

The best treatments for cataract include: Eyedrops – There are eyedrops which are said to slow down the progression of a cataract. This is only effective in the case of mild cataracts that are not yet affecting your vision. New pair of spectacles – Sometimes, a simple change of your spectacle prescription could be all you need to do to improve your vision. This is because cataracts can bring about either an increase or decrease in your existing power. Again, this is only effective in the case of a mild cataract.

Between the two methods, the most common cataract surgery remains the standard phacoemulsification cataract surgery. This is because after the advent of femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery, many studies have been performed to show that there is no improvement of visual outcome or success rate with the use of femtosecond laser. Hence, given its higher cost to the patient and no added benefit to the patient’s visual outcome, most surgeons choose to use phacoemulsification and only opt for femtosecond laser if patient’s eye condition truly requires it.

The most recent advancement in cataract surgery is the use of a femtosecond-laser to assist in the cataract surgery. This is called Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS).

Firstly, it is preferable for you to be completely well when going for surgery. Hence, take more vitamin C-rich foods or supplements to boost your immune system. Vitamin C is also known to help tissue healing. If you have any flu, viral-like illness or fever, it may be advisable to postpone the surgery till you are well. This is to prevent any spread of infection to your eye. Secondly, avoid taking any foods or medication that are known to cause blood-thinning as this may cause more excessive or easy bleeding during surgery.

As with the cost of everything else, it is not surprising to pay double the amount for a similar service or product in Singapore compared to in Malaysia. This is largely due to the currency exchange rate. The other factors that could lower cost of cataract surgery in Malaysia would be the lower cost of surgical supplies, medical staff, rental or facility fee and medication in Malaysia. It is generally not recommended to have surgery done overseas as you may need unforeseen close monitoring or post-surgery care which would not be convenient if you need to travel for long hours so frequently.

Yes, cataract surgery is covered by Medishield and other insurance policies in Singapore. In fact, many of my patients have managed to claim the entire cost of their bill from Medishield and other personal or company insurance policies. Clinics that are Medisave accredited will be able to check your mother’s extent of coverage very easily using her full name and NRIC number through a nation-wide electronic registry which holds all the information about every citizens insurance coverage. Simply ask your eye clinic to assist you to check your exact coverage.

When choosing an eye surgeon, you will want to know the following: Surgeon’s qualifications – In Singapore ALL eye doctors or ophthalmologists are certified to perform cataract surgery. There is no additional training needed to perform cataract removal. Although additional training or subspecialization in certain surgical fields such as retina, glaucoma and anterior segment surgery may put the surgeon in a better position to perform more complicated cataract cases.