What is a Cataract?
How are cataracts and presbyopia linked?
In our eyes, there is a crystalline lens which helps us focus for far and near like the lens in a camera. With age, the lens hardens, becomes less flexible and loses its ability to focus for near. The first sign of a cataract is presbyopia or “Lao Hua, 老花”. Only later on, will the cataract cause glare and blurring of vision.
When should I have my cataract treated?
The time to consider the treatment is when it affects your quality of life. It’s not about how “hard or ripe” the cataract is. Most of our patients take this golden opportunity to correct myopia (short-sighte dness), long-sightedness, presbyopia (“Lao Hua”) and astigmatism.In The EyeClinic by Dr Cheryl Lee, the aim is to help you to be spectacle free for far and near, a fantastic new lease of life.
Is cataract surgery really life changing?
Cataract surgery is performed to a high safety standard in most parts of the world. Our specialty is not just the surgery but elevating it to a different level, which is the choice of lens you should have to suit your lifestyle.
Our patients say that colours look more beautiful. What they love is the convenience of not having to wear glasses for far, computer and reading. Many are happy with how much younger they look without the reading glasses! The outcome is not determined by the surgery but by the correct choice of lens implant. Experience has taught us how to choose the correct multifocal lens for each patient that would suit your wants and needs.Some multifocal lenses cause glare and haloes and would be inappropriate for those who drive at night. Some lenses are really good for patients who like needle work or reading in Chinese. Refractive multifocal lenses cause minimal sight disturbances and are different from diffractive multifocal lenses. We would discuss a lot more when we meet.
Multifocal lenses are like cars. There are SUVs and cabriolets and every model in between. We need to discuss which one is best suited to you.”
How are cataracts treated?
Neither eye drops nor oral medications can cure cataracts. Cataract surgery is the only effective treatment and the good news is you only need to do it once in your life.
Cataract surgery takes me 15 minutes which means that you will not need to stay overnight in the hospital. With the advances in cataract surgery, cloudy and blur vision due to cataract can now be treated at an earlier stage. Patients no longer need to wait until the cataract ‘ripens’ before they can go through surgery.
Most patients choose to have it done under a mild sedation so that eliminates fear or any pain.
My patient’s eyes are not patched up after surgery, they leave with sunglasses and are going home independently afterwards
You would only need this procedure one time in your life. The cataract does not grow back again and the lens implant does not need changing or replacing.
To complete the cataract procedure, a Yag laser needs to be performed when a posterior capsular opacity form which can be within weeks to years. This is also done only once in your life .
Lens options to replace your cataract
How do monofocal lenses and multifocal lenses compare?
Lenses can that help you see in different distances means you can see for far and near with each eye. Monovision means you see far with one eye and near with the other eye.
Monovision usually means a loss of send of depth perception and computer distance. So I am not a fan of monovision. I would have the patient try out monovision in glasses or contacts before performing the cataract surgery.
Lenses that allow you to see in different distances are rather than choosing a car. Cars can have different brands and even within the brands there are cabriolets, 4 door cars and SUVs. Our subspecialty is in helping you choose the IOL (lens) that fits you personality and lifestyle.