FAQ

Most cataract surgeries take about 15–30 minutes per eye under local anaesthesia. Patients can usually go home the same day.

No, cataract surgery is painless. Local anaesthetic drops numb the eye, and patients typically feel only mild pressure during the procedure.

Cataract surgery is generally very safe. Rare risks include infection, bleeding, or retinal detachment. Your ophthalmologist will discuss all risks before surgery.

Most patients see improved vision within a few days, and full recovery usually occurs within 4–6 weeks. Eye drops are prescribed to aid healing.

IOL options include monofocal, multifocal, and toric lenses, which can correct distance, near, or astigmatism. Your doctor will recommend the best lens based on your lifestyle.

Ideal candidates are 18 years or older, have stable vision, healthy corneas, and no significant eye diseases. A comprehensive eye exam will determine your suitability.

Yes. LASIK is safe, quick, and virtually painless. Numbing drops are used, and most patients experience minimal discomfort during recovery.

Most patients return to normal activities within 1–2 days, with full vision stabilization within 1–3 months.

Temporary side effects may include dry eyes, glare, or halos at night. Serious complications are rare. Pre-operative assessments minimize risk.

Children should see a specialist if they have blurred distance vision, frequent squinting, or rapidly changing prescriptions. Early treatment can slow progression.

Myopia cannot be reversed naturally. Vision can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery (for adults).

IOL options include monofocal, multifocal, and toric lenses, which can correct distance, near, or astigmatism. Your doctor will recommend the best lens based on your lifestyle.

Glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve is damaged. This damage is usually caused by increased intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eye). The risk increases with age, a family history of glaucoma, diabetes, high myopia, previous injury to the eye and the use of steroids.

Yes, it’s possible to have glaucoma and be unaware. Glaucoma is the most common form of eye condition that can develop gradually and not produce any noticeable symptoms. So if you regularly have your eye checked, your eye condition can be detected early on.

Yes. If glaucoma is left untreated, it can lead to permanent loss of vision and blindness. The damage that is done to the optic nerve cannot normally be repaired. Diagnosis and treatment early on can save the vision that you already have.

A full eye exam is done to diagnose glaucoma. Your doctor may measure your eye pressure, examine your optic nerve and check your field of vision. Additional tests such as gonioscopy or specialised eye scans may be conducted.

Eye pressure is normally recorded in mmHg. NUH explains that in a normal eye, the pressure can be anything between roughly 10 and 25 mmHg. This does not mean you have glaucoma if you have high eye pressure. You can get glaucoma even with a normal eye pressure.

Glaucoma can’t be cured or reversed. Treatment aims to reduce the pressure in your eye and stop any further damage to your optic nerve. The sooner the treatment is started, the greater your chance of saving some of your vision.

Treatment of Glaucoma generally involves reducing the pressure in the eye. Drops are generally the first treatment. Depending on what kind of Glaucoma you have and how far it has progressed, your eye doctor may offer laser treatment or surgery.

Your glaucoma can be under control. Use your eye drops as directed and return for your follow-up visits. Your eye doctor will be checking to see if your treatment is controlling your glaucoma.

If you suddenly develop severe pain in the eye, red eye, blurred vision, headache, nausea or vomiting, then you should seek urgent medical attention. This could be a form of acute angle-closure glaucoma, which can potentially threaten your vision.

Dry eyes may occur if the eyes do not produce enough tears or if tears evaporate too quickly. The following factors also give rise to dry eyes: ageing, sustained use of computers, contact lenses, use of air conditioning, medications, and some medical conditions.

Staring at a computer or TV for too long? That definitely dries out your eyes. We actually blink less when we’re glued to a screen, so the tear film on our eyes breaks up faster and can’t do its job. That’s when your eyes start to feel dry or irritated.

Dry eyes can actually produce excess watering. If the eyes are irritated by dryness, they can stimulate reflex tearing, but these tears are not good lubricants.

Yes. Dry eyes may cause temporary blurring of vision. An unstable tear film can change the surface of your eye and affect your vision. If the blurring continues or persists, see an eye doctor.

Diagnosis of dry eye syndrome can be made by a doctor through an eye examination and test of the tears. Tests of tears can measure tear production and the stability of the tear film, along with looking at the surface of the eye and the eyelids.

Treatment really varies depending upon the cause. In mild dry eye situations, lubricating eye drops or artificial tears work well. However, if the dry eye persists or worsens, additional treatments such as punctal plugs can be used.

In general, dry eye syndrome can be controlled more than cured. Treatment can relieve symptoms and improve the quality of the tear film. Managing the cause can also help prevent symptoms from getting worse.

Try cutting down your screen time and make a habit of blinking more often. Keep air vents and AC units pointed away from your face. If you wear contacts, don’t keep them in for too long. Using a humidifier can help if your room feels dry.

You should visit an eye doctor if your dry eyes stick around, keep coming back, or start messing with your vision—even after you’ve tried treating them yourself. If you notice eye pain, swelling, constant redness, or any weird discharge, don’t wait. Those signs can mean there’s something else going on, so get checked out.

Yes. It is possible to have diabetic retinopathy and have no symptoms. Vision can be normal in early diabetic retinopathy. Screening can reveal changes in the retina before the vision becomes affected.

Damaged blood vessels and high blood sugar levels can over time cause the small blood vessels in the retina to be damaged. They can start to leak, bleed, block or shut down. This can affect the retina and cause sight loss.

Yes, diabetes can cause profound visual loss and even blindness. Diabetic retinopathy can cause bleeding, retinal detachment and/or swelling of the macula. If detected early and treated appropriately, the probability of serious visual loss can be reduced.

The diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy is made by examining the retina. The eye specialist may dilate the pupil and look inside the eye. OCT scanning, photographs of the retina or other tests may be carried out if necessary.

Diabetics should have a diabetic eye examination at least annually. Frequency may vary according to the diabetic and eye condition. Diabetic retinal photography can be done at polyclinics and some primary care clinics in Singapore.

Anyone who has diabetes can get diabetic retinopathy. The longer you have had diabetes or the less well controlled your blood sugar, the higher the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy is. Other health problems such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol can also increase the risk to be higher.

Yes, it can often be slowed by controlling your blood sugars and blood pressure. Protect your vision by controlling your cholesterol, not smoking and getting regular screening of your eyes.

The treatment depends on the severity and the type of diabetic retinopathy. For milder disease, management will involve regular observation and improving control of your diabetes. For more severe disease, treatment includes eye injections, laser treatment or surgery.

You should visit an eye doctor if your dry eyes stick around, keep coming back, or start messing with your vision—even after you’ve tried treating them yourself. If you notice eye pain, swelling, constant redness, or any weird discharge, don’t wait. Those signs can mean there’s something else going on, so get checked out.

Yes, early AMD may not have any symptoms. The change in your vision is likely to develop gradually. A comprehensive eye test can identify AMD at an early stage.

AMD (Age-related macular degeneration) occurs when the eye’s macula gets damaged as you age. Age is the biggest factor. Having a family history, smoking, obesity and cardiovascular disease are other risk factors.

The cells in the macula gradually wear down and can lead to dry AMD. It tends to be a slower process. Wet AMD is when new, abnormal blood vessels start to grow. They leak fluid or blood into the area under the retina and can cause the vision in the centre of your eye to deteriorate very rapidly.

AMD is diagnosed by an eye exam. Your eye doctor may use an Amsler grid, examinations of the retina and an OCT scan. Other tests of the retina may be used to detect wet AMD.

Diabetics should have a diabetic eye examination at least annually. Frequency may vary according to the diabetic and eye condition. Diabetic retinal photography can be done at polyclinics and some primary care clinics in Singapore.

Yes, it is capable of total loss of central vision. Wet AMD can progress rapidly without treatment. AMD rarely causes loss of peripheral vision, so total blindness is unlikely.

There is treatment available for some types of AMD. Wet AMD is treated by injections into the eye, which can help prevent abnormal blood vessels from developing. There is some benefit of taking AREDS2 supplements for some stages of dry AMD.

Although AMD cannot always be prevented, you may be able to reduce the risks. Avoid smoking, follow a healthy diet and a balanced lifestyle. Have regular eye tests to check for changes. AREDS2 could help some patients with moderate or advanced AMD, but they are not appropriate for everyone. 

If your central vision suddenly changes, have your eye doctor examine you as soon as possible. If you see wavy lines, notice a new dark spot, or have any other sudden change in vision, it may be a sign of wet AMD. Early diagnosis and treatment may be able to save your vision.