Transform cloudy to clear vision with laser cataract surgery in Brisbane
DISCOVER HOW LASER CATARACT SURGERY RESTORES YOUR VISION AND CAN GIVE YOU GREAT READING AND DISTANCE VISION WITHOUT GLASSES1Dick, H. B., & Schultz, T. (2017). A Review of Laser-Assisted Versus Traditional Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery. Ophthalmology and therapy, 6(1), 7–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40123-017-0080-z
Transform cloudy to clear vision with laser cataract surgery and lens replacement in Brisbane
DISCOVER HOW LASER CATARACT SURGERY AND LENS REPLACEMENT CAN RESTORE YOUR VISION AND GIVE YOU GREAT READING AND DISTANCE VISION WITHOUT GLASSES
2Dick, H. B., & Schultz, T. (2017). A Review of Laser-Assisted Versus Traditional Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery. Ophthalmology and therapy, 6(1), 7–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40123-017-0080-z
WE’RE HONOURED TO BE MEMBERS OF THESE PRESTIGIOUS PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS
ENJOY GREAT READING AND DISTANCE VISION WITHOUT GLASSES
Laser cataract surgery and lens replacement can treat your cataracts and dramatically reduce your need for reading and distance glasses
Restore your most precious sense
With laser cataract surgery and lens replacement, we aim to remove your cataracts, and significantly reduce, if not eliminate, your dependency on glasses – particularly for reading and distance.
3All About Vision. 2021. Laser Cataract Surgery. [online] Available at: <https://www.allaboutvision.com/en-gb/laser-cataract-surgery/> [Accessed 30 June 2021].“I experienced courteous, caring and highly professional treatment from the reception staff all the way through. Dr Russell and his team go the extra mile to explain in detail everything you’re likely to experience while in their high-quality care. Would highly recommend VSON!” – Martina Donaghy
Revitalise your energy
Many of our patients find that being free of their glasses not only revitalises their energy but gives them a level of confidence they never knew they’d lost.
4Amedo, A., Koomson, N., Pascal, T., Kumah, D., Ocansey, J. and Asare-Bediako, B., 2021. Quality of Life of Cataract Patients Before and After Surgery-Evidence From Four Rural Communities in Ghana. [online] Mathewsopenaccess.com. Available at: <https://www.mathewsopenaccess.com/full-text/quality-of-life-of-cataract-patients-before-and-after-surgery-evidence-from-four-rural-communities-in-ghana> [Accessed 30 June 2021].You’ll no longer have to rummage around for your glasses just to read a menu or use your phone.
Revitalise your energy
Many of our patients find that being freer of their glasses not only revitalises their energy but gives them a level of confidence they never knew they’d lost.5Amedo, A., Koomson, N., Pascal, T., Kumah, D., Ocansey, J. and Asare-Bediako, B., 2021. Quality of Life of Cataract Patients Before and After Surgery-Evidence From Four Rural Communities in Ghana. [online] Mathewsopenaccess.com. Available at: <https://www.mathewsopenaccess.com/full-text/quality-of-life-of-cataract-patients-before-and-after-surgery-evidence-from-four-rural-communities-in-ghana> [Accessed 30 June 2021].
You should no longer have to rummage around for your glasses just to read a menu or use your phone.
Reclaim your freedom
One of the best things about laser cataract surgery is how it can improve even the simplest things in an average day. You should no longer need to worry about how poor vision might interfere with your plans. Our patients report an easing sense of freedom and convenience.
Reclaim your freedom
One of the best things about laser cataract surgery and lens replacement is how it can improve even the simplest things in an average day. You will no longer need to worry about how poor vision might interfere with your plans. Our patients report an easing sense of freedom and convenience.
Revolutionise your life
Patients are often thrilled knowing that they’ll never have to miss out on life’s little pleasures. Whether it be the smile of a grandchild, the colours of the sunset, or simply getting stuck into a good book.
“The service here is exceptional, the staff were more than accommodating, and every step was explained, so I knew exactly what was happening.” – Alan Brown
Revolutionise your life
Patients are often thrilled knowing that they’ll never have to miss out on life’s little pleasures, whether it be the smile of a grandchild, the colours of the sunset or simply getting stuck into a good book.
“The service here is exceptional, the staff were more than accommodating, and every step was explained, so I knew exactly what was happening.” – Alan Brown
HOW CATARACT SURGERY WORKS
Enjoy a life free from cataracts and glasses in 3 easy steps
Reach out
Because there are 3 types of cataract surgery, the best way to find the right one for you is to get in touch. Give us a call on 07 3063 0732 or you can click the button to use our easy online booking form:
We’ll meet
Visit our clinic in Fortitude Valley for a free assessment that will give you a complete understanding of your cataract surgery options.
Enjoy life
After cataract surgery you’ll have crystal clear vision, and with laser cataract surgery you’ll also have the life-changing ability to read again without glasses6Kanellopoulos AJ. Topography-guided LASIK versus small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for myopia and myopic astigmatism: a randomized, prospective, contralateral eye study. J Refract Surg.2017;33:306 – 312 [online] Available at: <https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28486721/> [Accessed 21 June 2021]..
DISCOVER IF YOU CAN BE FREE FROM CATARACTS AND GLASSES
The best way to find out if laser cataract surgery and lens replacement is right for you is to have an in person assessment. There are 3 types of cataract surgery, so firstly, you’ll be assessed. Then our experts will give you a clear answer on which type of cataract surgery is best for your lifestyle.
LIFE AFTER LASER CATARACT SURGERY
Dr. Matthew Russell explains what your daily life is like after laser cataract surgery
LASER CATARACT SURGERY EXPLAINED
Restore your vision and reduce your dependence on eyeglasses, readers and bifocals
Cataracts occur when the natural lens of our eye ages and loses its clarity. As a cataract progresses, the natural lens becomes hazy and discoloured. This causes your eyesight to worsen.
- Your vision becomes blurred and cannot be corrected with glasses
- Reading small print becomes challenging
- Colours fade
- Your confidence driving at night begins to falter. This is because the cataract scatters light causing glare sensitivity.
In partnership with OKKO Eye Specialist Centre, our goal is to restore your vision using the most advanced lens technology and laser vision correction techniques.
To be sure that you are suitable for laser-assisted cataract surgery and lens replacement, we will need to examine your eyes thoroughly at your initial assessment. This will include multiple advanced diagnostic tests such as:
- Visual acuity: to understand how far down the eye chart you can read.
Refraction: to determine the refractive error in your eyes.
Pachymetry: to measure the thickness of your cornea.
Topography: to generate advanced maps of the cornea to provide a contour plan of the front surface of the cornea. This aids in the diagnosis of astigmatism and the exclusion of certain diseases.
Biometry: to measure the axial length, curvature and chamber depths of your eye.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT): to provide detailed images of the retina.
Up to 20% of people undergoing laser assisted cataract surgery will have low-level focusing problems following cataract surgery, resulting in a dependence on glasses. This may interfere with their satisfaction with their vision following surgery. These people would benefit from laser assisted cataract surgery.
Laser cataract surgery uses the latest techniques in cataract surgery and laser vision correction to maximise your freedom from glasses after cataract removal.
Laser cataract surgery can be broken down into two steps:
Step 1: We use a laser to access the capsule the natural lens sits in and remove the cataract.
Step 2: We replace the cataract lens with a new advanced lens.
A critical part of step 1 is creating an opening of the lens capsule which contains the cataract. In standard cataract surgery, the cataract surgeon makes the incision manually. In laser cataract surgery, a laser makes the incision. This method is more precise and has higher repeatability.
7Dick, H. B., & Schultz, T. (2017). A Review of Laser-Assisted Versus Traditional Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery. Ophthalmology and therapy, 6(1), 7–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40123-017-0080-z[The laser technique also enables us to use more advanced extended depth of focus (EDOF) implants designed explicitly for laser cataract surgery. This improves the stability of multifocal implants. Your cataract surgeon can position these lenses with a much higher degree of accuracy, resulting in better visual outcomes.
8Dick, H. B., & Schultz, T. (2017). A Review of Laser-Assisted Versus Traditional Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery. Ophthalmology and therapy, 6(1), 7–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40123-017-0080-zThe specific type of lens that will best suit you depends on your vision needs and preoperative testing. At your assessment, we conduct extensive analysis to determine which lens will meet your lifestyle requirements.
Sometimes after cataract surgery, the eye needs laser vision correction to fine-tune the focus. Using LASIK and SmartSurface technology, we can refine the focus of your eye and the quality of your vision following surgery.
Our surgeons have a laser vision correction background. This gives them a specific skill set to consider your quality of vision after the removal of cataracts.
The lenses
There is no single “best” lens that would meet the needs of everyone. Intraocular lenses vary to suit varying vision and lifestyle needs. We have a complete range of the latest lens types and laser vision correction techniques available. These help you to achieve the vision that will best suit your individual lifestyle needs after laser cataract surgery.
We can use a lens implant (Intraocular lenses) to give a range of vision, from distance to close. We calculate the lens power using scans taken at your initial assessment for surgery that assess the abilities of your natural lens.
Some eye surgeons use a monofocal IOL in traditional cataract surgery. We use multifocal lenses to help you see at different distances.
At this assessment, your ophthalmologist will discuss lens options with you and the target focus for your eyes after surgery. This enables us to select the best implant and focus target for your needs. Some possibilities include:
- Multifocal IOL lens implant combined with extended-depth-of-focus (EDOF) lenses – reduces your dependence on glasses, readers, and bifocals for most day-to-day distance tasks.
- EDOF lens implant – reduces your dependence on glasses, readers, and bifocals for most day-to-day near and distance tasks
- Astigmatic/Toric lenses – Some patients have a high degree of astigmatism. Fortunately, we can correct this with a toric lens, enabling you to see well without glasses or contact lenses for distance and close-up tasks.
Advantages
- Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgery in Australia;92021. Cataract surgery hospitalisations 40 years and over – Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care [online] Available at: <https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated/4.6-Cataract-surgery.pdf> [Accessed 1 July 2021].the procedure typically takes less than half an hour and does not require an overnight stay10Healthline. 2021. Cataract surgery preparation, procedure, costs, aftercare, recovery. [online] Available at: <https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/cataract-surgery#the-procedure> [Accessed 1 July 2021].
- Cataract surgery is one of the safest surgeries performed on the human body. Generally, your recovery will be short and uneventful, and you will be kept informed at every stage11All About Vision. 2021. 8 Ways to Minimize Cataract Surgery Recovery Time. [online] Available at: <https://www.allaboutvision.com/en-gb/conditions/cataract-surgery-recovery/> [Accessed 1 July 2021].
- Vision is usually improved the day after surgery. Maximum improvement is usually achieved with EDOF, trifocal and toric lenses.12Zeiss.com. 2021. Choosing a Cataract Lens. [online] Available at: <https://www.zeiss.com/vision-care/int/better-vision/health-prevention/choosing-a-cataract-lens.html> [Accessed 1 July 2021].
- The lens implants are permanent and ordinarily do not need to be replaced – they are good for the life of the patient13Beiko, G. H., & Grzybowski, A. (2015). Intraocular lens implants: Do they come with a life time guaranty? Saudi journal of ophthalmology : official journal of the Saudi Ophthalmological Society, 29(4), 247–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjopt.2015.10.002[online] Available at: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4625136/> [Accessed 1 July 2021].
Disadvantages
- Mild discomfort: After surgery, it is normal to feel mild discomfort, irritation, or a stingy sensation. If you experience these symptoms you can take paracetamol (such as Panadol, Panamax, Dymadon, or Panadeine). Mild mucous, a small amount of bloody discharge, and watering of the eye is also considered normal
- Laser cataract surgery is more costly than Standard or Lifestyle Cataract surgery
- Driving is not permitted for 24 hours following surgery, due to the sedation used
- Light sensitivity: It is also quite normal to be sensitive to light after surgery. You will be given a pair of dark glasses after your procedure
- You must avoid:
- Rubbing your eyes
- Engaging in strenuous activity/exercise, gardening, or heavy lifting (greater than 10kg) for two weeks
- Wearing eye make-up for one week
- Swimming for two weeks
- Allowing water/shampoo to come into direct contact with the eye for two weeks
The risks of not having cataract surgery
In certain people, the growth of a cataract can make them prone to primary angle-closure glaucoma. This is where the drainage channel in the front of the eye (trabecular meshwork) is gradually narrowed by the increasing size of the crystalline lens. Eventually, the drainage channel can become completely blocked, resulting in a rapid increase in the pressure within the eyeball and a painful red eye. Long-sighted patients are more likely to be at risk of angle-closure glaucoma.15Ling JD, Bell NP. Role of Cataract Surgery in the Management of Glaucoma. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 2018;58(3):87-100. doi:10.1097/IIO.0000000000000234[online] Available at: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5992498/> [Accessed 1 July 2021].
Your eye specialist will be able to assess if you are at risk of primary angle-closure glaucoma and whether you would benefit from cataract extraction or another treatment to prevent this serious condition.
- Lifestyle cataract surgery – Restore clarity of vision AND reduce your need to wear glasses to suit your active lifestyle
- Standard cataract surgery – An ideal treatment for someone who is happy to not be free from glasses after the treatment
Does a non-surgical treatment exist?
The only way to treat a cataract is to surgically remove it and implant an artificial lens in its place
16Davis, G., 2021. The Evolution of Cataract Surgery. [online] PubMed Central (PMC). Available at: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6139750/> [Accessed 1 July 2021].Step one: We use local anaesthesia in the form of eye drops and light (twilight) sedation. We make a tiny incision in the cornea – the transparent membrane on the surface of the eye.
Step two: Once we have removed the cataract, we implant the selected artificial lens (intraocular lens or IOL) using a special lens injector. In the majority of cases, the intraocular lenses or IOL will sit within the natural ‘bag’ that held the original lens, and the incision heals on its own.
Step three: Once the surgery is complete, we place a clear shield over the eye, which stays on for four hours post-surgery and reduces the risk of infection. We will ask you to commence the use of postoperative drops which consist of an antibiotic drop and two anti-inflammatory drops.
The total time at the day hospital is approximately three hours.
Most patients can return to many routine daily activities, including driving within two or three days of their surgery.
18Verywell Health. 2021. What to Expect With Laser Cataract Surgery. [online] Available at: <https://www.verywellhealth.com/laser-cataract-surgery-3421943> [Accessed 1 July 2021].Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
AS SEEN ON TV
Dr. Matt Russell brings innovative laser cataract
technology to Australia
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LENS SURGERY…
Educate yourself further about lens surgery
An informative guide on what lens replacement is, and what procedures are most commonly used including refractive lens exchange surgery. Click here for more information.
An article that explains why lens replacement surgery may become the most successful refractive procedure, and other essentials such as how much is lens replacement surgery. Click here for more information.
A published, scientific article that provides an overview of intraocular lenses, their safety and effectiveness. Click here for more information.
An example of an FDA approved ICL lens, what it can accomplish and how it works. Click here for more information about Visian ICL and answers to questions such as how much does icl cost?
A cataract is clouding of the lens in parts of the eye that may affect your eyesight. Symptoms include:
- Worsening of vision which may appear cloudy, fuzzy or misty
- Difficult reading
- Glares and halos from light
Click here to read more about cataract surgery in England and Wales
The use of femtosecond lasers within cataract surgery is becoming more common. Femtosecond lasers are used to minimise the use of surgical blades and needles providing precision and micron accuracy. Click here to read more about cataract surgery in London.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Cataracts eventually occur in everyone. The majority of cataract surgeries are undertaken for patients in their 60’s and 70’s, but surgery can be performed sooner or later than this. Click here to read more about cataract surgery in Wales and Bristol.
THE LAZY PERSON’S WAY TO LEARN EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VISION CORRECTION
Tired of Googling your way to understanding vision correction? We’ve got you covered! This “all-in-one” guide to vision correction options in Queensland will answer every question you have. Even the ones you didn’t think to ask! Best of all, it’s only a click away.
ABOUT THE EXPERT
Dr. Matthew Russell
MBChB, FRANZCO
Cataract & laser eye surgery specialist
My combination of education, training and experience positions me to provide optimal results for patients of all ages in Brisbane. I have a passion for helping my patients enjoy the clear, high-definition vision they need to live rich and active lives. Now, I’ve hand-picked a team of professionals that share my passion and commitment to exceptional care.