Cataract Surgery

What is cataract?

Cataract is a cloudiness of the natural lens inside the eye that reduces the amount of light that enters the eye and making the image less focused. Most cataract is caused by ageing. Conditions that may cause cataract to occur earlier in life include: diabetes, eye injury, other eye diseases or surgery, use of steroid medications and genetic conditions.

What symptoms/signs does it cause?

Early symptoms of cataract include difficulty seeing things in poorer light, glare and haloes around lights and rapid changes in glasses prescription. As the cataract progresses seeing things in the long distance and reading becomes harder and vision gradually declines.

What treatment is available?

Cataract Surgery is a safe and quick day procedure that replaces your cloudy natural lens with a clear artificial acrylic lens using microscopic keyholes and an ultra high frequency ultrasound probe. Improving  your vision and reducing reliance on glasses for your daily activities. Dr Sharwood tailors the latest technology and surgical techniques to optimise your vision for your lifestyle.

Why is cataract surgery performed?

The aim of cataract surgery is to improve the clarity of your vision. To prevent ongoing reduction in vision and maintain independence with driving, and to reduce reliance on spectacles for clear vision.

What does surgery involve?

Cataract surgery is performed as a day surgery procedure (no overnight hospital stay required). You are given medication by the anaesthetist to make you relaxed and calm prior to the procedure and the eye is numbed by drops and/or injection beside the eye so you don’t feel any pain. The procedure takes approximately 15-20 minutes to perform. The cloudy lens is removed using advanced phacoemulsification (microscopic high frequency ultrasound) and replaced with a new clear artificial lens.

What is the recovery after cataract surgery?

Most patients find their vision has returned to a good level within a week allowing them to return to light activities and driving. Swimming and heavy lifting/high impact exercise can be resumed in 2 weeks. Glasses can be updated 4 weeks after surgery. Eye drops are instilled in the eye for 4 weeks to reduce post operative inflammation. Many patients find their eyes are more sensitive to light or irritation in the first month or so and this can be reduced by the use of sunglasses and the use of the prescribed eye drops.

What are the risks?

Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most predictable surgical procedures available however no surgery is completely “risk free”. Uncommon risks include: the need to use glasses more than you would like, a transient raise in eye pressure, persistent inflammation, swelling of the macula requiring further treatment, changes to the shape of the pupil or position of the eyelid Rare risks include:retinal detachment, need for further surgery, infection, reduction in vision.

What is the cost of cataract surgery?

With eligible private health insurance:

 “Standard” cataract surgery is performed by Dr Sharwood as “NO GAP” and is billed directly to your health fund.

“Premium” cataract surgery to minimise spectacle wear is performed by Dr Sharwood “KNOWN GAP” with a $500 out of pocket charge.

(Note that your health insurance policy may also require payment of an excess and there is an out of pocket cost for the anaesthetist. Most health funds will only cover cataract surgery as part of their “Gold” level cover.)

Without eligible private health insurance “Self – insured”

Undertaking “self insured” cataract surgery mean accessing high quality surgery cataract surgery performed by an expert surgeon rather than a trainee ophthalmologist, having access to the full range of latest technology to give you the best vision and avoiding the wait times associated with the public hospital system.

Packages (per eye) start from an “out of pocket” cost of:

  • Pensioner: $2790

  • Standard: $3399

  • Premium: $4100

(Package includes surgeon, anaesthetist, hospital and prosthesis out of pocket fees after estimated medicare rebates)

What is the difference between “Premium” and “Standard” cataract surgery and will I need glasses after cataract surgery?

Dr Sharwood will always aim reduce your reliance on glasses after cataract surgery by:

  • undertaking an analysis of your visual needs, lifestyle and eye health

  • employing the latest technology in eye scanning to measure, calculate and position your intraocular lens

  • using the best intraocular lens technology

  • meticulous surgical technique

“Standard” cataract surgery you are likely to still require reading glasses for small print however your reliance on glasses for general long distance tasks will be reduced.

“Premium” cataract surgery gives you access to multifocal intraocular lenses or blended vision to minimise the need for glasses for long distance and close work. Regardless of the technique or premium lens type used, it is currently not possible to provide a 100% guarantee that glasses will not be required after surgery.

Can the cataract recur and how long does the replacement artificial lens last?

Cataracts can not recur after your natural lens has been removed. The replacement lenses are an acrylic material that last indefinitely. Some patients may experience blurring of their vision in the months or years after cataract surgery due to haze developing on the back surface of the artificial lens (posterior capsular opacification). This is easily removed with a quick painless in-rooms laser procedure. 

Which Intraocular lens type is best for me?

During cataract surgery or refractive lensectomy your natural lens will be replaced with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens. This lens will aim to correct all or a significant portion of your glasses prescription. At present there is no “perfect” intraocular lenses that replicates the natural soft lens you had when younger that can provide perfectly clear vision at all distances in all light conditions.

The “best” intraocular lens type for you will depend on your visual demands in varying light conditions and your current eye health and potential future eye health. Dr Sharwood will conduct an in depth assessment of your eye health and vision as well as your lifestyle and visual needs to identify the intraocular lens types that will provide the best vision for your lifestyle.  

Prior to your surgery you will have a set of precise measurements taken of your eye to allow calculation of the best lens power and alignment for you.

Monofocal Intraocular Lens

The “traditional type” of intraocular lens that has a single focal point. These lenses provide the greatest clarity in all light conditions but only have one focal distance so without glasses your vision is focused at either far away or close up but not both. They are a good lens choice for patients  with eye conditions or precise visual demands who need optimal clarity and who don’t mind wearing glasses to achieve their best vision.

Extended Focus Intraocular Lens

A new type of intraocular lens that is focused over a range of distances. These lenses provide good clarity in all light conditions from arms length to long distance. Low powered reading glasses are required for reading very fine print or detailed close work, particularly in lower light conditions.

Multifocal/Trifocal Intraocular Lens

A new type of intraocular lens that provides clear focusing at close up, mid range and long distance giving a high chance of spectacle independence. These lenses can create haloes around lights at night which some patients find disconcerting. You need to have healthy eyes for these lenses to work well.

Blended Extended Focus Intraocular Lenses

Two extended focus lenses with slightly offset focal points are used with one eye being optimised for clear long distance vision and the other eye for clear close up work. Both eyes are well focused in from arms length to a few metres away. This allows a high chance of spectacle independence with less haloes at night but there is some asymmetry of the focusing between your two eyes.

Toric Intraocular Lens

Toric intraocular lenses are designed to reduce any astigmatism you may have to give better vision without glasses. Toric lenses require precise alignment within your eyes which is achieved with the use of advanced preoperative and intraoperative alignment software. There is a small risk of toric lenses moving from their ideal position and requiring realignment.

Ready to optimise your vision or want to further explore your options?

Book a consultation with Dr Phillipa Sharwood to discuss the best options for your lifestyle and needs.