Other Refractive Procedures

Cataracts

What is a Cataract, who would require surgery and are there different treatments available?
Cataract is a natural aging process where the living lens inside your eye becomes cloudy. In our clinic an implant is used to maximise the quality of vision by minimising sperical aberration.

Is the procedure permanent?
The implant can be removed but this is extremely rare.

Is the treatment safe?
Cataract treatment is more invasive than laser eye surgery, but is the second most common surgical procedure available after lasik and has an extremely good safety record.

Is the treatment painful?
The eye may be red for a few days, but only mild discomfort is likely.

Implantable Contact Lenses

What is an Implantable Contact Lens, who would require one and are there different types available?
An Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) may be used if the prescription is outside the range for laser eye surgery. The Kirkwood Fyfe clinic uses the ‘STAAR’ ICL. Other types available include the ‘iris claw’.

Is the procedure permanent?
Lens implantation is reversible but lens removal is relatively rare.

Is the treatment safe?
There may be an earlier risk of developing cataract in some people, but if cataract develops, this can easily be addressed

Is the treatment painful?
Because microsurgical techniques are used, it is unusual for the treatment to be painful.

Refractive Lens Exchange

What is a Refractive Lens Exchange, who would require one and are there different types available?
When vision can be significantly improved by exchanging the living lens inside the eye with an implant, this can be done even although there is no sign of any cataract. The lens we implant corrects spherical aberration which means it maximises the quality of vision.

Is the procedure permanent?
The lens could be removed but this is extremely rare.

Is the treatment safe?
As with cataract, the procedure is the second most common surgical procedure available after lasik.

Is the treatment painful?
Severe discomfort is uncommon.

Dry Eyes

How can you treat dry eyes?
If standard lubrication and improved lid hygiene are ineffective, microscopic silicon inserts, into the duct between the eye and the nose. These are called punctal plugs.

Intra Corneal Rings

What is an Intra Corneal Ring?
If the surface of the eye is irregular in shape causing distortion as in high irregular astigmatism or in ‘conical cornea’, a curved stiffener inserted into the front surface of your eye may improve the quality of vision. This may then preclude the need for a corneal graft.

Technology

Refractive Surgery for Cataracts, Implantable Contact Lenses and Refractive Lens Exchange

Zeiss IOL Master
This state of the art instrument measures the length, depth and curvature of your eye so that an Intra Ocular Lens can be ordered for your eye with extreme accuracy.

Zeiss Topography
This machine creates a map of the surface contours of your eye so that the implant surgery can be planned accordingly.

Zeiss Microscope
The latest model of the world famous ‘Zeiss’ operating microscope is the preferred instrument of our consultant ophthalmologists.

The Pentasys ‘Phaco-Emulsifier’ is used for all Cataract, Refractive Lens Exchange and Implantable Contact Lens surgery. This machine is also used for diathermy during cosmetic surgery.