cn-lasik

什么是激光视力矫正手术?

角膜是眼睛清晰的窗口。激光视力矫正手术是一种用激光重塑角膜的治疗,以矫正通常用眼镜矫正的屈光不正。

屈光不正包括:

  • 近视
  • -远视
  • 散光(眼睛屈光不成球状)

对于近视的人来说,他们的眼睛的自然聚焦能力太强,因此屈光手术的目的是减少角膜的曲率,以减少眼睛的聚焦能力。有远见的人的眼睛聚焦力太弱,因此涡旋手术程序会使角膜陡峭,增加眼睛的聚焦能力。

通过选择性地重塑不规则角膜的部分以使其平滑和对称,也可以通过激光屈光手术同时矫正散光。

什么是LASIK?

在LASIK中,您的眼科专家使用激光在角膜中创建一个薄皮瓣。外科医生折回皮瓣并使用准分子激光在皮瓣下去除非常特定量的角膜组织。然后将皮瓣放回其原始位置,使其在适当的位置愈合。

LASIK手术是一种具有非常好的安全性的手术。该程序作为门诊手术中心完成。该过程通常在15至30分钟之间,并且通常很快速恢复。大多数患者能够很快恢复正常的日常活动。

谁将执行该手术?

角膜视力矫正手术包括对角膜进行手术并用准分子激光塑造角膜,因此我们诊所认为它应该由角膜手术专强的眼科专家进行操作。 Joanne Goh医生在世界着名的英国Moorefield医院接受了角膜和激光矫正手术的深造和临床手术操作经验。

谁会受益于激光矫正手术?

如果您符合以下几点,屈光手术可能是对你的一个很好的选择:

  • 想减少对眼镜或隐形眼镜的依赖;
  • 没有眼睛病;
  • 21岁以上,而且没有白内障;
  • 眼镜或隐形眼镜处方至少1年没有重大变化;
  • 接受手术固有的风险和潜在的副作用;
  • 了解您在手术后有可能仍然需要眼镜或隐形眼镜以达到最佳视力;
  • – 有适当的屈光不正。

激光矫正手术的费用是多少?

我们有一个非常实惠的激光矫正手术入门套餐,每只眼睛2700澳元(从每只眼睛3000澳元的标准价格打折)。

Pterygium

What is a pterygium?

A pterygium is a fleshy overgrowth of conjunctiva that extends over the cornea. It is often pink, fleshy and triangular-shaped. In most cases, a pterygium grows from the inner corner of the eye. It may sometimes grow from the outer corner or on both sides of the eye at the same time. One or both eyes may be affected. The growth is benign, but if untreated, a pterygium may grow across the cornea, affecting vision.

Pterygium
Pterygium

What is the difference between a pterygium and a pinguecula?

A pterygium and pinguecula are both benign growths on the whites of the eye (conjunctiva).

A pinguecula is a yellowish, raised growth on the conjunctiva. It usually occurs on the side of the nose, but can also appear on the other side. A pterygium, however, is a fleshy overgrowth of the conjunctiva that extends onto the cornea. It can remain small, or may grow large enough to cover part of the cornea. When this happens, your vision can be affected.

pinguecula
Pinguecula

Symptoms of a pterygium/pinguecula

A pterygium or pinguecula is usually painless, although it may cause irritation to the eye at any stage. If symptoms do occur, they may include:

  • A sensation of a foreign body in the eye
  • Redness in the whites of the eye on the side of the pterygium/pinguecula
  • A pinguecula appears as a yellowish raised lesion on the whites of the eye
  • Dry, uncomfortable eyes
  • Itchy eyes
  • Burning or stinging sensation
  • Blurred vision if the pterygium grows across the cornea

What causes a pterygium to develop?

Pterygia are more common in people who have had years of exposure to sun, wind and dust. Therefore they are more commonly found in people living in hot, dry climates or those who spend a lot of time outdoors. Pterygia are known to be associated with the following risk factors:

  • Sunlight exposure, due to excessive exposure to UV radiation.
  • Long-term exposure to dry, windy, or dusty environments.

Treatment

No treatment is needed if the pterygium or pinguecula causes no symptoms and does not bother you. If a pinguecula or pterygium becomes red and inflamed, steroid drops can relieve it temporarily.

However, if your eyes are constantly red, uncomfortable or irritated; or if the pterygium is large enough to cause vision problems, surgical intervention is usually required. It is preferable to remove a pterygium before it grows across the cornea as it may scar the cornea and cause permanent vision problems. A pterygium or pinguecula may also be removed for cosmetic reasons. Some patients may seek surgical removal as they are conscious of the appearance of these growths in the eye.

Pterygium/pinguecula surgery

Surgery involves peeling off the pterygium and harvesting a thin piece of healthy, normal conjunctival tissue from under the eyelid. This conjunctival graft is glued in place to close the defect where the pterygium had been removed. This technique reduces the chance that your pterygium will grow back.

If you’ve had a pterygium or pinguecula removed before, the best way of preventing them from coming back is to:

  • Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays
  • Protect your eyes from dusty environments by wearing goggles or glasses
  • Using artificial tears when your eyes are dry

Book a Consultation

If you’d like to find out more about pterygium surgery, please call us on (03) 9070 0955, or contact us using the online form below and we will be in touch.

Refractive Surgery

What is refractive surgery?

Refractive surgery or vision correction surgery refers to any surgical procedure used to fix refractive errors such as myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness) or astigmatism. Refractive surgery helps you see better and reduce your dependence on glasses or contact lenses.

Most types of vision correction surgery reshape your cornea, which is the clear front window of your eye (LASIK and PRK). Other procedures involve implanting a lens in your eye (ICL) or replacing your eye’s natural lens with an artificial lens (RLE). All of these procedures do one thing in common; they alter the focusing power of your eye so that light entering the eye focuses sharply on the back of the eye, giving you clear vision.

Treatment Options

The options for refractive surgery include:

  • LASIK (Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis)
  • PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)
  • ICL (Implantable Contact Lenses)
  • RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange)

LASIK

In LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis), a corneal flap is first created using a femtosecond laser. The flap is then lifted and folded back on its hinge and a different laser (excimer laser) is used to reshape the cornea, correcting for your prescription. The flap is then placed back in its original position at the end of the procedure. Vision recovery is very quick with most patients seeing very well by the next day.

PRK

In PRK, the excimer laser reshapes the cornea after the epithelium (surface layer of the cornea) has been debrided by the surgeon. Trans-PRK (transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy) is an advancement on PRK, whereby the excimer laser removes the epithelium and reshapes the cornea in a single step. This allows for faster healing than traditional PRK.

Implantable Contact Lens

Implantable contact lens (ICL) is a soft, foldable lens that is placed in the eye, in front of the natural lens and behind the iris. The ICL is inserted in the eye through a very small incision which is self-sealing and does not require stitches. ICLs are very effective for treating high levels of myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism that are beyond the range of laser, or for those who are not eligible for laser vision correction. Vision recovers rapidly within a day or two.

Refractive Lens Exchange

Refractive lens exchange is a procedure much like cataract surgery whereby the natural lens of the eye is removed and replaced with an artificial lens implant. The power of the lens implant and the lens design is chosen to give you the desired refraction and visual outcome. For example, multifocal lenses will give you clear distance and near vision, reducing the need for glasses. A discussion with your refractive surgeon will determine the best lens choice for you.

Which procedure is best for me?

The procedure that is best suited to you depends on various factors such as your age, glasses prescription and health of your eye. Anyone over the age of 18 who has not had a significant glasses or contact lens prescription change for at least 12 months are eligible for a refractive surgery assessment. A consultation with your refractive surgeon will determine your suitability for refractive surgery and the procedure that will give you the best outcome.

Book a Consultation

If you’d like to find out more about refractive surgery, please call us on (03) 9070 0955, or contact us using the online form below and we will be in touch.

Cataract Surgery

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural crystalline lens. The clouding of the lens obscures and scatters light that normally focuses sharply on the back of the eye, causing reduction of vision. A cataract usually occurs as a natural consequence of ageing but it can also occur earlier in life (congenital cataract), be caused by an injury (traumatic cataract), some medications (e.g. steroids) or medical conditions (e.g. diabetes).

Cataracts that occur as a natural part of ageing typically affects both eyes. The onset of symptoms is often insidious, but can sometimes occur fairly rapidly over a few months.

What are the symptoms of a cataract?

  • Cloudy, hazy or foggy vision
  • Worsening distance vision
  • Difficulty reading
  • Difficulty driving at night
  • Glares and haloes around lights (especially at night)
  • Colours appearing duller or less bright
  • Difficulty discerning contrast in colour
  • Becoming more short-sighted and needing more frequent changes in your glasses prescription

Treatment

Cataract surgery is the only treatment for cataracts. Surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear artificial lens implant that allows light to focus sharply again in the eye, restoring clear vision.

How do I know if I need cataract surgery?

The decision of when to proceed with cataract surgery depends on how much the cataract is impairing your vision and how it interferes with your daily life. If you feel that your vision is affecting your ability to perform your normal daily activities, it may be time for cataract surgery. You may also make this decision in consultation with your ophthalmologist.

What does cataract surgery involve?

Cataract surgery is usually performed as a day procedure under local anaesthetic. Surgery takes 20 minutes and one eye is done at a time. Your doctor’s anaesthetist will give you some medication to make you drowsy and relaxed. Drops will be used to numb your eye for the procedure. You will not be able to drive after your surgery; therefore it is important that you arrange transport home on the day of the surgery and to have someone stay overnight with you.

Surgery involves removing the cataract through a small incision and replacing it with a clear lens implant. The incision is so small that it does not even require stitches. The lens implant stays in place throughout your life and does not require replacement.

What does cataract surgery involve?

Will I have to wear glasses after cataract surgery?

In most cases the artificial lens implant is chosen to give good distance vision. Reading glasses are usually needed for near vision and will be prescribed by your optometrist about 4-6 weeks after surgery.

Some newer lens implants are able to give you both clear distance and near vision, reducing your dependence on glasses. Discuss this with your surgeon if you would like to explore these options. You may also view our vision simulator to learn more about the various lens options.

Book a Consultation

If you’d like to find out more about cataract surgery, please call us on (03) 9070 0955, or contact us using the online form below and we will be in touch.

Glaucoma

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve and can result in vision loss and blindness. It is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide after cataracts. With early detection and treatment, severe vision loss can be prevented. It is for this reason that everyone over the age of 45 should see their optometrist for an eye check every 2 years and earlier if there is a family history.

Glaucoma is usually associated with an intraocular pressure (IOP) above the normal range. However:

  • 20-50% of patients with glaucoma have IOP within the normal range. Patients with normal IOP are said to have normal tension glaucoma.
  • Many patients have raised IOP for years without developing characteristic changes of glaucoma. This condition is referred to as ocular hypertension.

What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

Often glaucoma develops without any symptoms. There is commonly no pain and central vision often stays normal until late stages of the disease. Therefore it is important for patients with glaucoma to have regular specialised visual field tests to assess the amount of peripheral vision being affected.

Without treatment, people with glaucoma will gradually lose their peripheral vision. Over time, central vision may decrease until no vision remains. Glaucoma can develop in one or both eyes.

Glaucoma can be classified as open angle or close angle.

In angle-closure glaucoma, the drainage angle at the front of the eye is blocked by part of the iris and fluid cannot drain through the angle and leave the eye. This type of glaucoma is more common among Asian patients. People with this type of glaucoma may have a sudden increase in eye pressure. Symptoms include severe pain and nausea, as well as redness of the eye and blurred vision. If you have these symptoms, you need to seek treatment immediately. This is a medical emergency. Without treatment to restore the flow of fluid, the eye can become blind. A laser treatment called peripheral iridotomy to create a small channel on the iris near the angle can prevent this emergency from occurring.

In open-angle glaucoma, the drainage angle is not blocked by the iris. Open-angle glaucoma forms the majority of glaucoma in Australia. In open-angle glaucoma, even though the drainage angle is open, the fluid passes too slowly through the meshwork drain. This causes fluid build-up and the pressure inside the eye rises to a level that may damage the optic nerve. When the optic nerve is damaged from increased pressure, open-angle glaucoma and vision loss may result. There is no single value of eye pressure that will cause glaucoma. The damage to the optic nerve occurs when the balance between eye pressure and the optic nerve’s ability to handle pressure is lost.

Who is at higher risk of developing glaucoma?

  • People with a family history of glaucoma
  • Older age
  • Patient with migraines or Raynaud’s (a condition that causes very cold fingers and feet) or low blood pressure especially at night.
  • Some patients with obstructive sleep apnoea

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

For detection of glaucoma your eye specialist will perform a comprehensive eye examination to examine the eye pressure, drainage channels of your eye and optic nerves.

Additional tests you will have include:

  • Visual field test: This test assesses your peripheral vision. It helps your eye care professional tell if you have lost peripheral vision, a sign of glaucoma.
  • OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) scan: This test assesses the amount of neural tissue present in your optic nerve and the population of neural cells (ganglion cells) in the retina. The OCT and visual field test forms an integral part of documenting the structure and functional changes caused by glaucoma. It is important for diagnosis of glaucoma as well as assessing whether there has been any progression.
  • Optic nerve photography: This is a special photograph of the optic nerve to document its appearance for future reference.

Can glaucoma be cured?

The peripheral vision lost from glaucoma cannot be restored. There is no cure for glaucoma, however if the eye pressure (IOP) is lowered to a safe level then glaucoma will not progress.

What is a safe eye pressure for you may be different to other people. Many factors need to be taken into consideration including your age and the degree of existing glaucoma damage. Your eye specialist will advise you on the eye pressure that is safe for your eye (known as the target eye pressure).

Treatment for glaucoma

The aim of these treatments is to prevent progression of your glaucoma by achieving a pressure that is safe for the eye.

  • Eye drops – These are the most common form of treatment for glaucoma. Patients will need to use these on a daily basis and therefore compliance is important.
  • Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) – SLT is a non-invasive laser procedure that treats the drainage channels in the eye to encourage greater fluid flow. It can be in addition to, or instead of eye drops.
  • Minimally Invasive Glaucoma surgery (MIGS) – MIGS involves various micro devices to allow fluid drainage out of the eye with less trauma and post-operative complications than conventional surgery. The long-term effectiveness of these procedures is not clear.
  • Conventional surgery (Trabeculectomy or Tube shunt operation) – These are drainage procedures performed when medical, laser therapy or MIGS have failed. The long-term effectiveness of these procedures are well established however post-operative complications are significant.
  • Cyclodiode laser – Cyclodiode laser treatment is commonly used in intractable glaucoma or eyes with poor vision.

Book a Consultation

If you’d like to find out more about glaucoma, please call us on (03) 9070 0955, or contact us using the online form below and we will be in touch.