A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens that can occur with aging, certain medical conditions and trauma. Cataracts may cause blurred vision, dulled vision, sensitivity to light and glare, and/or ghost images. If the cataract changes vision to the extent that it interferes with your daily life, the cataract may need to be removed.
Early-stage cataracts are most often detected by a slit-lamp examination, before any symptoms are detected by the patient. The question of how quickly cataracts progress cannot be answered in general terms. In some cases, it takes many years before the disease leads to blindness if left untreated, while in others it progresses rapidly within a few weeks. In the advanced stage, the following symptoms usually appear in varying degrees, indicating cataracts:
In addition to cataract, visual impairments such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can also occur around the age of 70. Regular ocular fundus checks must therefore be taken very seriously. Now you can do the self-test with the Amsler grid: Macular Degeneration (AMD) self-test.
Cataracts are caused by the eye’s natural lens becoming cloudy with age, leading to blurred vision, decreased contrast, and poor night vision. Besides age, other factors such as genetics, eye injury, certain diseases, and long-term use of certain medications can also increase the risk of cataracts. When vision impairment caused by cataracts significantly impacts daily life, surgery to replace the cloudy natural lens with an artificial one is the only effective treatment.
Monofocal Lens is the standard lens used in basic cataract surgery. It corrects vision for one distance only—usually “far.” This means that after the surgery, you will have good distance vision for watching TV or walking, but you will need reading glasses for near tasks.
Trifocal Lens provides clear vision at three distinct distances: near (reading a phone), intermediate (working on a computer), and far (driving). They’re typically used during refractive lens exchange or cataract surgery to eliminate the need for glasses or bifocals.
EDOF lenses are one of the latest lenses options in cataract surgery technology. They create a continuous range of high-quality vision from distance to intermediate. While you might still need reading glasses for very tiny print, EDOF lenses are good enough for night driving as they typically induce fewer halos or glare compared to other multifocal options. This is a popular choice for cataract Hong Kong patients who drive frequently in the city at night.
The LAL Light Adjustable Lens is an intraocular lens offering patients: the power to adjust their vision after surgery. Currently the LAL lens is the only lens that can be fine-tuned post-operatively, allow to tailor your final vision based on your personal lifestyle needs.
Cataracts cannot be treated with medication or corrected with glasses. When the cataract impair vision to a degree where it negatively affects daily life, the only effective treatment is to surgically remove the cloudy lens (cataract extraction) and replace it with an implant, a so-called intraocular lens (IOL). In fact, Cataract Surgery is the most frequently performed surgical procedure in the world. During the operation, the natural clouded lens is replaced with a very small artificial lens (IOL).
While aging is the single most common cause of lens claudy, it is by no means the only one. Understanding the specific risk factors that accelerate this process can help you decide when to seek a consultation for cataract surgery. In a fast-paced, urban environment like Hong Kong, certain lifestyle and environmental factors play a significant role. You might require treatments earlier if you fall into these categories:
If you fall into any of these high-risk categories, we recommend annual comprehensive eye exams starting at age 40, rather than 60. Early detection allows cataract surgery specialists to monitor the progression and plan your cataract surgery at the optimal time before the lens becomes too hard and difficult to remove, and before your vision becomes severely compromised.
The cataract surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and usually takes 15 minutes per eye. Before the procedure, the eye is anesthetized with drops so that the patient does not feel any pain during refractive lens exchange. The eye is opened with a tiny corneal incision, which heals without sutures.
The anterior lens envelope is opened in a circular fashion. Then the lens core is removed. The rest of the lens envelope remains and serves as a ‘holding apparatus’ for the new lens.
Each patient receives a trifocal lens that is ideally adapted to his or her individual needs. This well-tolerated artificial lens can remain permanently in the eye and is not visible.
The surgeon inserts the new lens into the eye with an injector. The lens unfolds and is properly placed in the empty lens envelope by the surgeon. The trifocal lens corrects Cataracts in addition to other existing vision disorders (near-, farsightedness and astigmatism).
Early-stage cataract is most often detected by a slit-lamp examination at the ophthalmologist’s office, before any symptoms are detected by the patient. The question of how quickly cataract progress cannot be answered in general terms. In some cases, it takes many years before the disease leads to blindness if left untreated, while in others it progresses rapidly within a few weeks. If cataract begins to affect daily activities (such as driving, reading, or recognizing faces), cataract surgery should be considered.
Full recovery from cataract surgery will take several weeks. During this time, please avoid strenuous activity, rubbing your eyes, and swimming.
Cataract surgery is performed under local anesthesia, and most patients recover quickly and experience minimal discomfort after the procedure.
Once the cloudy natural lens is replaced by an artificial lens (IOL), cataracts themselves do not recur. However, some patients may develop “posterior capsule opacification” (PCO), where the capsule that originally held the IOL in place becomes cloudy over time. This condition can be resolved with a short laser treatment (YAG Capsulotomy).
While it is possible, most surgeons prefer to treat one eye at a time. This ensures the first eye has begun healing and allows the surgeon to verify the visual outcome before performing cataract surgery on the second eye. However, for specific cataract surgery cases, immediate sequential surgery might be discussed.
There is no upper age limit for cataract surgery. As long as you are in good general health and your eye is healthy enough to benefit from the procedure, you can undergo surgery. We have successfully performed cataract surgery on patients in their 90s who wished to regain their independence.
This depends entirely on the lens you choose. With standard Monofocal lenses, you will likely need reading glasses for reading. However, if you choose Trifocal or EDOF lenses, the goal of the cataract surgery is to eliminate or significantly reduce your dependence on glasses for most daily activities.
Many medical insurance plans cover cataract surgery as it is a medical necessity. We recommend checking with your insurance provider about their specific coverage for cataract surgery services.
The intraocular lenses (IOLs) used in cataract surgery are designed to last a lifetime. They are made of biocompatible materials that do not degrade or wear out. Once they are implanted during your cataract surgery, they become a permanent part of your eye.
Yes, absolutely. Patients who have had LASIK or SMILE in the past can still undergo cataract surgery. However, it is crucial to tell your surgeon, as the previous laser correction changes the corneal shape. We use special calculations to ensure the new lens power is accurate.
