Cataract Surgery

WHAT IS A CATARACT?

The natural lens in the human eye ages with time. The lens starts to turn brown and the sharpness and quality of your vision may reduce. Your glasses prescription may start to change as well. This dysfunctional lens is now called a cataract.

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?

Once glasses can no longer help, cataract surgery can be performed to improve your vision. This involves making small ports to access the inside of the eye, removing the cataract & replacing it with a clear artificial lens.

IS EYE SURGERY SAFE?

Modern eye surgery is a marvel of advances in technology and surgical skills. Cataract surgery has made huge advances in the last 20 years is now considered extremely safe and routine surgery for the vast majority of patients. That said, as with any operation there are small or uncommon risks that Dr Gunn will discuss with you at your consultation.

WILL I BE AWAKE DURING SURGERY?

Many patients find the thought of eye surgery stressful and Dr Gunn finds that most patients feel more comfortable being asleep during the operation. This is achieved with the use of topical anaesthetic (numbing eye drops) and heavy twilight sedation. This avoids all needles around or near the eye. You can relax in the lead up to surgery knowing that you won’t feel or remember the operation, and it avoids the small risks of local or a general anaesthetic. The surgery itself is painless and the recovery is minimal for most patients.

HOW MUCH DOES CATARACT SURGERY COST IN BRISBANE?

Cataract surgery is only covered by “Gold” level private health cover plans and some “Silver plus” plans. You will need to check with your insurer. There will usually be a gap for the surgery and anaesthetist that ranges depends on your insurance provider. There is generally no gap on the hospital admission or on the lens. You also may have elected to have an excess on your insurance plan for your first surgery in the calendar year. You will be given a full quote for the surgery after you see Dr Gunn for an assessment.

CAN I HAVE CATARACT SURGERY WITH DR GUNN WITHOUT INSURANCE?

If you are uninsured or have “Silver” or “Bronze” level private cover, Dr Gunn can still perform surgery at the South Brisbane Day Hospital. There will be a feee for DR Gunn, the anaesthetist and also the hospital. Multifocal or toric intraocular lenses add to the cost of surgery. You will be given a detailed quote when you see Dr Gunn. Dr Gunn has no financial interest in the hospital. Dr Gunn does not offer intermediate surgery.

AM I ABLE TO GET RID OF MY GLASSES?

Short sightedness, far sightedness and astigmatism can be corrected at the time of cataract surgery. A routine approach aims to give patients clear distance vision without glasses and to use reading glasses for near vision following surgery.

New technologies such as extended depth of focus or multifocal lenses allow patients to avoid wearing glasses entirely or only occasionally for very fine visual tasks. These lenses can work extremely well and improve quality of life if selected for the right patients. Dr Gunn will determine if you are a candidate for this type of procedure and will discuss the options with you.

CAN I HAVE SURGERY FOR BOTH CATARACTS ON THE SAME DAY?

Having one eye and then the next operated on the same day is called “bilateral immediately sequential cataract surgery”. This is growing in popularity in certain places in the world. Currently in Australia it is not standard of care and the reason for this is the perceived safety issues around cross contamination. Dr Gunn offers surgery on a Thursday and then the second eye surgery on a Friday so that you can potentially be back at work on the Monday only needing to take two days off of work. This is very appropriate for indoor office type roles, but if you have a physical job or work in a dirty environment it would be advisable to take the following week off before returning to work. Some patients prefer to leave a week or two between eyes and we are happy to accomodate whatever gap you would prefer.

I DON’T LIVE IN BRISBANE, CAN I TRAVEL FOR DR GUNN TO DO MY SURGERY?

Many patients travel to Brisbane for Dr Gunn to do their eye surgery. Having both of the eyes treated within 2 days makes this much more streamlined and minimises trips back and forwards to Brisbane. Read more about Travelling to Brisbane to see Dr Gunn for eye surgery.