Cataract
The most common age-related eye disease affecting vision is a cataract. If you or your loved one would like to get rid of eyeglasses, or would like to improve the quality of vision, then cataract surgery may be the solution. Surgery to remove cataracts is one of the most frequently performed, one of the most successful, and one of the safest procedures in medicine today.
RIPE OR MATURE CATARACTS
Gone are the days of waiting until one’s cataracts are “ripe” or “mature”. Back in the 70’s and early 80’s, cataract surgery was usually delayed for as long as possible because it was considered risky and required an extended stay in the hospital. Nowadays, cataract surgery is performed using topical anesthesia on an outpatient basis and the procedure itself takes an average of 15 minutes. With proper screening, the risks are much lower and the recovery is much faster for most patients. Today, patients have their surgeries done much earlier.
LIFESTYLE
Most cataract surgeries are elective surgeries and that is good news for the patient. There is no need to wait until your eyesight is very poor. We advise our patients to consider cataract surgery when the cataract begins to affect their life styles; driving, sports, or reading. The cataract will typically not damage your eye while it is growing, so there is also no need to rush into the surgery. You can decide when the time is right for you!
SURGICAL CENTERS
Dr. Manolette Roque will perform the procedure at hospital-based operating suites (St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City, Asian Hospital and Medical Center). You will arrive about an hour before your actual surgery. You may be given a mild sedative to help you relax. The area around your eye will be cleansed and a sterile drape will be applied around your eye. The surgery only takes around 15 minutes but plan to spend 2 to 3 hours at the hospital for the pre-operative procedures and recovery.
ANESTHESIA
Dr. Roque uses a powerful anesthetic eye drop to completely numb the eye. Using only a topical anesthetic avoids the risks and pain associate with needle injections and provides a much quicker return of vision. There is no need for shots or injections.
QUICK CATARACT LINKS
- Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS) Package
- Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery Package
- Refractive Cataract Surgery Suitability Screening
- Book your Suitability Screening
PHACOEMULSIFICATION CATARACT SURGERY
Phacoemulsification is a machine-assisted cataract surgery technique allowing small sutureless corneal incisions with foldable intraocular lens implantations. Click on the eMedicine link below to read up on a manuscript on phacoemulsification which Dr. Roque prepared for eMedicine Medscape.
eMedicine Medscape Ophthalmology
Phacoemulsification with Intraocular Lens Implantation
Authored by Dr. Manolette Roque for eMedicine Medscape Ophthalmology
Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS)
A small instrument will be placed between your eyelids to keep you from blinking. In Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery (aka Femtosecond Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery or FLACS), the laser is used to make the opening in the eye, an opening in the lens itself and to treat the lens. Dr. Roque uses the advanced Alcon LenSx system. If needed, an ultrasonic instrument will then gently break the cataract into microscopic particles, which are then suctioned away.
Premium Intraocular Lens Implant
An appropriate intraocular lens (IOL) for your specific visual requirements has been chosen preoperatively. This IOL may be an aspheric monofocal (Alcon IQ, AMO Tecnis, B+L Envista, HumanOptics Aspira, PhysIOL mircoAY123, VSY Acriva, Zeiss CT Asphina) aspheric monofocal toric (Alcon IQ Toric, B+L Envista Toric, HumanOptics Toric A, Zeiss TORBI), aspheric multifocal (Alcon ReStor, HumanOptics Diffractiva, Oculentis Lentis MplusX, PhysIOL FineVision microF, VSY RevIOL, Zeiss AT Lisa, Zeiss AT Lisa Tri), aspheric multifocal toric (Alcon ReStor Toric, Oculentis Lentis MplusX Toric, PhysIOL PodFT, Zeiss AT Lisa Toric). The IOL you chose to correct your vision will be inserted into the same location that your natural lens occupied. Once the IOL is locked into position, the micro-incision seals itself, typically without the need for sutures. It remains tightly closed by the outward pressure within the eye and provides a fast and much more comfortable recovery.
RECOVERY
You will be released soon after the procedure to go home and relax for the rest of the day. Your eye will not be patched and most patients are able to see well after surgery.Visual recovery varies from patient to patient but most patients return to their normal activities within a day or two. If you have cataracts in both eyes, the second procedure will usually be scheduled within a week or two.
COMPLICATIONS
Serious complications are extremely rare, but it is surgery and there are some risks involved. One of our counselors will provide you with additional information about the risks associated with cataract surgery. Choosing an experienced surgeon for your procedure can significantly minimize the risks involved with your cataract procedure.
Cataract Surgery Packages
Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS) Package
This is the latest premium state-of-the-art bladeless Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery
- St. Luke's Medical Center Global City (LenSx)
Most insurance companies and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) do not provide coverage for premium FLACS. Philhealth provides basic coverage subject to a 5-day pre-approval process. Choose this package if you wish to say goodbye to manual incisions and blades, and say hello to laser-precision, improved healing, faster visual recovery, and better visual outcomes.
Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery Package
Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery at JCI-accredited hospitals
- St. Luke's Medical Center Global City
- Asian Hospital Medical Center
Most insurance companies and HMOs provide coverage for phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Philhealth provides basic coverage subject to a 5-day pre-approval process. If bladeless femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery is desired, please choose the Platinum packages instead.
COMPARISON OF INTRAOCULAR LENS IMPLANTS
| MONOFOCAL | MONOFOCAL TORIC | MULTIFOCAL | MULTIFOCAL TORIC | EDOF VARIFOCAL POLYFOCAL | ADD ON | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance Vision | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Intermediate Vision | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (Multifocal only) |
| Near Vision | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (Multifocal only) |
| Astigmatism Correction | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes (Varifocal Toric only) | Yes (Toric only) |
| Aspheric | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Preloaded | Yes (Hoya 251, Micro123, Aspira, Bi-Flex HL) | No | Yes (AT LISA Tri) | No | No | No |
| Brands | Acriva, Aspira, CT Asphina, Hoya 251, IQ, AMO, Envista, Bi-FLex HL, Micro123 | AT Torbi, IQ Toric, Envista Toric, Torica, Bi-Flex T | AT LISA, AT LISA tri, Diffractiva, microF, RevIOL, Tri-ED, ReStor, Bi-Flex M | AT LISA Toric, ReStor Toric, microF Toric, Bi-Flex MT | Symfony, MPlus Comfort, MPlus MF20, MPlusX, MPlus MF30, WIOL | Toric, Multifocal, SML |
| Average Cost (in Philippine Pesos) | 20,000 - 25,000 | 40,000 | 50,000 - 75,000 | 75,000 - 90,000 | 75,000 - 90,000 | 75,000 - 90,000 |
