Dr Colin Chan > My Specialties > Cataract & laser cataract surgery

Cataract surgery

As a refractive specialist, cataract surgery is a commonly performed operation. These days, cataracts can be easily detected, which is why regular eye checks with your optometrist are important once you’re around 55-60.

Many patients are well informed about cataract surgery, however it’s important that I sit down with them and give them all the options that are available to them.

For example, there now exists a wide range of intraocular lenses, from monofocal to multifocal to correcting astigmatism. I have a good chat with my patients to find out what they most want out of their sight, then we decide together.

Even though they’re well educated about the procedure, that doesn’t stop them from being nervous on the day. So they’re pleasantly surprised at how quickly they are in and out of our day surgery – usually 2-3 hours and then they’re on their way home.

Laser cataract surgery

At Vision Eye Institute in Chatswood, we’ve been fortunate to have obtained the very first technology in the Southern Hemisphere that allows an ophthalmic surgeon to perform laser cataract surgery.

Although there was a learning curve when I first began using the technology in early to mid 2011, it’s now my preferred method. The laser is extremely accurate and I’m finding that outcomes are more predictable. I tell my patients that I feel this is the best option, however it’s ultimately up to them. After all, I’ve performed manual cataract surgery for many years now.

Refractive lens exchange/laser lens surgery

A refractive lens exchange is for those people who are usually in their 50s or 60s, who don’t have cataracts yet want to be free of glasses. Laser correction is still an option but may have a limited lifespan due to the approaching development of cataract.

Refractive lens exchange exactly the same procedure as cataract surgery, but it’s replacing a clear instead of a cloudy lens.

At Vision Eye Institute Chatswood day surgery, we can use the laser cataract technology to perform a refractive lens exchange – we call this laser lens surgery.