Morningside Mediclinic
Cnr of Hill & Rivonia Road, Sandton
011 784 7000
Schedule your appointment
Mon - Fri: 07:30 - 16:30
reception@sandtoneyeclinic.co.za
Refractive Cataract Surgery
Refractive Cataract Surgery
Freedom from glasses in your golden years
An investment that enriches the quality of your life.
Embrace getting older with grace
Cataract surgery the ideal time to invest in your vision
With modern Refractive Cataract Surgery, it is possible to live without glasses again. Imagine never having to search for your reading or bifocal glasses. Now that is an investment in life. Based on scientific literature, 90% of individuals who have undergone the surgery do not require spectacles for distance, intermediate, or near vision. You will, however, still need them for certain tasks like prolonged reading.
Choosing lenses that offer spectacle independence after cataract surgery leads to even higher satisfaction rates. More than ninety-nine percent of multifocal lens patients in an FDA clinical study said they would choose the same lens again.
Visualise enjoying crisp, sharp vision during all your waking hours—an investment that enriches the quality of your life.
cataract surgery: The Procedure
Cataract surgery ranks among the most precise and successful operations in modern medicine, boasting a remarkable success rate exceeding 98%. It’s a testament to medical advancement that most complications, should they occur, can be managed with effective treatments.
Performed under a high-powered microscope, cataract surgery exemplifies the pinnacle of precision. It has been further refined by technological advances, such as computer assistance, which overlays crucial data onto the surgeon’s view during the operation. Utilizing the phacoemulsification technique, the surgeon employs ultrasound vibrations to fragment the cloudy lens, which is then delicately removed by suction. The capsule that originally housed your natural lens is preserved for the placement of the new intraocular lens (IOL).
The IOL is meticulously inserted, often folded, into the capsular bag through the initial incision and then unfurled to its full size, restoring the eye’s focusing ability. Due to the ‘self-sealing’ nature of the corneal incisions, stitches are generally unnecessary.
In cataract surgery, planning is the key to success. The Vivior Monitor offers objective data on patients’ lifestyles to support the optimal selection of intraocular lenses or refractive surgery solutions. This assists your ophthalmologist to help you choose the best lens for you. Now you also have the option of seeing clearly without glasses again with multifocal and extended depth of field lenses. This takes cataract surgery to the next level by giving you a lens matched specifically to your lifestyle.
Tailored Surgical Packages: Your Vision, Your Choice
Selecting the right lens for cataract surgery is a collaborative process between you and your ophthalmologist. We consider your daily activities, career demands, hobbies, and preference for wearing glasses or not. It’s important to note that different lenses not only offer various visual outcomes but also come with distinct financial considerations.
Standard Cataract Surgery
Standard Cataract surgery is well-suited for patients with medical aid who are comfortable with wearing glasses after surgery. We insert a mono-focal lens, focusing on achieving optimal vision with corrective eyewear. With most medical aids there will be no or minimal co-payment.
Premium Cataract Surgery
For individuals leading an active lifestyle or those who wish to be free from the hassle of glasses, premium cataract surgery may be the ideal choice. Multi-focal lenses offers a high probability (90%) of spectacle independence, although some may find glasses beneficial for prolonged reading. Premium lenses are designed to enhance your life’s quality, but they do require a co-payment. In our pursuit of perfection, we address not only the cataract but also any astigmatism, fine-tuning your vision to its fullest potential. While the chances of needing further enhancement are minimal, we provide complimentary laser vision correction for the 10% who may require it after premium cataract surgery, ensuring your satisfaction with the visual outcome.
When should I have cataract surgery?
The natural lens inside your eye is clear and flexible when you are born. The light should pass through the lens without faded colour, scatter, glare, or blurry vision. Its flexibility allows it to change shape to focus on near, intermediate, and far objects. With age, the lens slowly loses its clarity and flexibility.
As yet there are no lens implants that are as good as the natural healthy human lens in a young person. When deciding on surgery one should consider the influence decreased vision has on your daily life and correction that can be achieved with spectacles. A recent development in the field, called the ocular scatter index, can objectively predict how much visual improvement can be expected after surgery.
If spectacle independence suits your lifestyle better and you choose multifocal lenses you can expect better quality vision after surgery than the result you would get with a mono-focal lens. This means that surgery can be done sooner, even while the lens is still relatively clear, with great visual outcomes.
What is an advanced ocular examination?
During an advanced ocular examination, the latest technology in ophthalmology is used to identify the unexpected and accurately predict your results after treatment or surgery. Everything from your cornea (clear front window of your eye) right through to the nerve at the back of the eye is scanned and checked. An ocular scatter index also determines which parts of the eye contribute to decreased vision by looking at how light travels through the eye.
There is nothing as disappointing as not getting the results you expected. By examining your eye in totality, we know when there are other factors involved that can influence outcomes.
This is where the art comes in: choosing the best option for your lifestyle. If spectacle independence is preferred, our aim is perfection. This means that all other possible imperfections of your eye must be excluded. With this information we can identify the best lens for your lifestyle, that offers comfort for a lifetime.
Identifying Cataracts: Signs to watch for
Cataracts often develop slowly and can be difficult to detect without a professional evaluation. However, certain signs may indicate their presence:
- Double Vision: Seeing two images when you should only see one.
- Blurry or Hazy Vision: The world appears out of focus.
- Increased Need for Light: Finding that you need brighter light than before
- to read or perform tasks.
- Night Vision Difficulties: Difficulty navigating in low-light conditions.
- Dull or Yellowed Colours: Once vibrant colours now seem faded or have a
- yellow tint.
- Light Sensitivity: A harsh or uncomfortable response to light sources.
Cataract surgery is an opportunity to invest in your vision
