Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery: Top 12 Questions Singaporeans Ask ChatGPT
With the increasing popularity of laser-assisted cataract surgery or bladeless cataract surgery in Singapore in recent years, more and more people are considering the procedure over traditional cataract surgery.
It needs to be noted that bladeless cataract surgery in Singapore uses a femtosecond laser to automate a few steps of the procedure. The final surgical outcome also depends on a sound treatment plan, choosing the most suitable intraocular lens (IOL) the most suitable intraocular lens, position of the IOL in the eye and the surgeon’s surgical skills.
During your consultation at our eye clinic at Mount Elizabeth Novena, our eye care specialist will assess your cataract condition. If cataract surgery is recommended, he/she will discuss with you the choice of IOL based on your eye health, lifestyle and professional needs.
In this article, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions regarding bladeless cataract surgery in Singapore.
Q1: Is laser-assisted cataract surgery in Singapore painful?
Prior to surgery, the cataract surgeon will instil numbing eyedrops and local anaesthesia is given as an injection near the eye. Hence, there is minimal pain and discomfort during a laser-assisted cataract surgery, generally.
During the surgery, a femtosecond laser is used to perform some steps, such as creating small incisions on the cornea and an opening in the capsule. You can feel touches around the eye and face area, and the eyelids are stretched open during the procedure.
There is usually no need for stitches as the corneal incision is only 2 to 3mm. The incision will heal on its own.
Post-surgery, though it is normal to experience discomfort, irritation, excessive tearing and sensitivity to light for the first week. Our eye specialist at Mount Elizabeth Novena will prescribe eye drops to help cope with these symptoms.
Excessive pain post-surgery is rare, but do seek immediate medical attention should it occur.
Q2: How long does the procedure take?
Laser-assisted cataract surgery can take longer than standard cataract surgery. Depending on the surgeon’s skills and experience, it may take about 30 to 40 minutes per eye compared to 15 to 20 mins per eye for standard cataract surgery. Please always set aside half a day on surgery day, as you need to factor in admission and recovery time.
Prior to bladeless cataract surgery, our eye surgeon at Mount Elizabeth Novena will dilate the pupils. The lasering usually takes a few minutes to create a corneal incision and to soften the cataract.
After resting in the recovery ward post-surgery, most people can then return home on the same day and are able to resume most daily activities the next day. Though vision recovery is quick, there can be mild fluctuations during the immediate post-op recovery period, which is normal.
Q3: Is laser-assisted cataract surgery safer than standard cataract surgery?
Laser-assisted cataract surgery is claimed to offer a higher level of accuracy for certain steps in the cataract surgery using a femtosecond laser and may benefit those with dense cataracts or astigmatism, but this does not necessarily mean it is a safer surgical method than standard cataract surgery. The cataract surgeon uses a femtosecond laser to create corneal incisions, a circular opening in the lens capsule and also pre-softens the cataract before removal, which may decrease the amount of ultrasound energy used during the procedure.
For decades, standard cataract surgery has boosted high success rates, especially when performed by a skilful and experienced eye surgeon in Singapore. The cataract surgeon uses handheld surgical instruments and ultrasound technology to soften and remove the cataract.
Research and clinical studies have shown that both methods have similar outcomes and safety profiles. The final outcome of the cataract surgery lies heavily on the surgeon’s experience and skills, pre-surgery measurements, and the type of IOL used, rather than the method of cataract surgery.
Our established Mount Elizabeth Novena eye specialist is able to provide you with a customised cataract treatment in Singapore.
Q4: Will I still need glasses post-surgery?
This largely depends on the type of IOL chosen for laser-assisted cataract surgery and the positioning of the IOLs inside the eye. With the hands of experienced cataract surgeons, a lot of people can enjoy spectacle-freedom post-cataract treatment in Singapore for most daily activities.
Monofocal lens: Provides 1 focal point. Typically, you are able to see far without glasses but will require reading glasses for near work. This lens, though, provides the sharpest vision amongst all lenses.
Extended depth-of-focus (EDOF) lens: Provides 2 focal points. You can opt for far and intermediate vision and need reading glasses for near work or near and intermediate vision, but need glasses to see far.
Trifocal lens: Provides 3 focal points – does not require glasses for most activities for near, intermediate and far distances. This offers the most convenience, but there is more glare and halo, which does not pose a major issue usually, as you will learn to ignore them as time goes by. Those with pre-existing eye conditions, including retinal/macula issues and advanced glaucoma, may not be suitable for the trifocal lens.
During your consultation at our Mount Elizabeth eye clinic, our eye care specialist or eye surgeon in Singapore will check your eyes and discuss the best type of IOL that suits your eye condition, lifestyle and professional needs bladeless cataract surgery in Singapore.
Q5: Can I do both eyes the same day?
In most cases, we perform surgery for both eyes on separate days for laser-assisted cataract surgery. This is so we can allow some time for the 1st eye to heal and see how it likes and responds to the IOL. The cataract surgeon can thereafter further refine the treatment plan and optimise the surgical outcome for both eyes eventually.
In rare instances when surgery is performed for both eyes on the same day, the right and left eye surgeries are still treated as 2 separate surgeries with each having its own set of sterile instruments and medications. While it is true that doing both eyes on the same day can reduce post-op reviews and allow for faster visual recovery, it is not something commonly done in Singapore.
Our experienced eye surgeon at Mount Elizabeth Novena will provide more information on this during your cataract screening.
Q6: Does MediSave cover it?
Yes. Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents can use funds from their MediSave account to pay for cataract treatment in Singapore – up to $3,210 per eye.
After your consultation at our Mount Elizabeth Novena eye specialist clinic, our clinical team will provide financial counselling on the cost breakdown of cataract surgery.
Q7: What lens should I choose if I use screens a lot?
A monofocal lens is chosen to achieve good far vision. Glasses will be needed for intermediate and near work, like using laptops and mobile phones. Monovision with the monofocal lens can be considered – one eye to see far and one eye to see near – if one does not wish to use reading glasses.
For a person who uses a lot of screens, multifocal lenses (EDOF or trifocal lens) that provide multiple focal points may be more apt as they give a continuous range of vision, including near, intermediate and far distances. A trifocal lens gives the most convenience but may induce night vision issues like halo and starburst. Most people, though, are able to tolerate and ignore these issues and night driving usually does not pose a major issue.
During the cataract screening, our Mount Elizabeth Novena eye specialist will guide you in deciding the choice of lens for your bladeless cataract surgery, taking into consideration your hobbies and profession.
Q8: The Decision Guide: Clarity Goals, Lifestyle, Budget
Choosing between laser-assisted cataract surgery and standard cataract surgery can at times feel overwhelming. We can simplify the decision-making process using 3 main criteria:
Vision goals – If your aim is to get the best possible sharp far vision, then opt for a monofocal. On the other hand, if convenience is prioritised, opt for a multifocal lens, taking into consideration a small drop in sharpness, but you gain spectacle-freedom for most daily activities, which people value these days for a better quality of life. Both are able to give most people undergoing cataract treatment in Singapore good optical quality.
Lifestyle and professional needs – If you do a lot of near work – enjoys reading, uses a lot of computer/laptop for work or simply prefers not to use glasses – a multifocal lens, though it costs more, will allow for 2 or 3 focal points without glasses. This option may fulfil these needs better.
Budget considerations – Laser-assisted cataract surgery in Singapore costs more than standard cataract surgery but does not guarantee a better visual outcome.
A consultation with our experienced eye surgeon at Mount Elizabeth Novena will help to align and balance out your visual goal and budget.
Q9. What are the possible risks?
Possible risks and complications include:
- Posterior capsule rapture
- Endophthalmitis
- Inflammation
- Infection
- Swelling
- Retinal swelling, tear and detachment
- Zonulysis
- Retained lens fragment
Q10. When is a good time to consider surgery?
These days, many do not wait till the disease gets too severe to have cataract surgery, as this may increase the risk and complexity of the surgery if the cataract is too advanced. It is time to consider surgery when the condition:
- Has affected the functioning of daily activities
- Causes blurry or cloudy vision, and changing prescription glasses cannot help improve the vision
- Causes difficulty in night driving because of excessive glare and halo
- Causes colours to look washed out or faded
Q11. Will I be awake during the procedure?
Yes, most people are awake during the procedure. For cataract surgery, there is usually no need for IV-sedation or general anaesthesia unless the individual has difficulty keeping still or is prone to anxiety/panic attacks.
The cataract surgeon will use numbing eyedrops and give an anaesthetic injection near the eye. Hence, there is minimal pain. During the procedure, the vision is usually blurry, and you will not be able to see much except for some lights and movement.
Q12. Can cataracts come back after surgery?
A cataract does not recur once removed. It is usually a one-time surgery. In a small number of people, though, they may experience blurry vision some months or years after the surgery as a result of posterior capsule opacification (PCO). This condition occurs when there are cells that grow on the thin membrane behind the implanted lens, resulting in cloudy vision. It is easily treatable with a 1-min YAG laser. PCO usually does not recur after YAG laser.
Book a cataract screening and bring your questions
If you are considering laser-assisted cataract surgery or bladeless cataract surgery in Singapore, the first step is to go for a comprehensive cataract screening.
At our Mount Elizabeth eye clinic, our eye care specialist and clinical optometrist will perform detailed measurements of the eye, assess the severity of the cataract, and discuss with you the most suitable treatment options.
Contact Lang Eye Centre at +65 6684 1000 or [email protected] to schedule a cataract screening and bring all the questions you have regarding laser-assisted cataract surgery in Singapore.
