Cataract Surgery

Cataract is the clouding of the lens of your eye(s) that develops due to ageing or caused by an injury. Usually, cataract slowly develops and it does not cause any vision difficulties until at a later stage, where a person’s vision is affected. For people with untreated cataract, looking through an affected lens is like looking through a foggy window.

Cornea & External Eye Diseases

Cornea and external eye diseases are eye conditions that affect the ocular surface. Some of these conditions are:

Chalazion

Definition:
A chalazion is a small, slow-growing lump or cyst that develops within the eyelid. They are not usually painful and rarely last longer than a few weeks. Human eyelids consist of 30-40 glands in each of the upper and lower lids that produce oil to lubricate the surface of eye. These glands are called Meibomian glands. Chalazion develops due to the blockage or inflammation of Meibomian glands.

Risk Factors:
People with thicker oil secretion from Meibomian gland tend to have a greater risk of developing chalazion. Anyone who has history of chalazion, he/she has greater risk of developing another one in future. Individuals with acne rosacea, Meibomian gland dysfunction and seborrhea of eyelids are at higher risk of getting chalazion.

Signs & Symptoms:

• Appears as a small, non-painful, red/inflamed lump in eyelid at early stage
• Chalazion is more common to develop on the upper lid.
• Although painless, chalazion may cause watery eye and some irritation. Sometimes it may lead to blurry vision.

Conjunctivitis

Definition:
Conjunctivitis, commonly known as “pink eye,” is an infection in the outer membrane of the eyeball (conjunctiva). The blood vessels in conjunctiva become inflamed and giving the eye a red or pink colour appearance. The common causes of conjunctivitis are virus, bacteria and allergen. Sometimes, it can be associated with contact lens wear, air pollution and chemicals.

Signs & Symptoms of 3 common types of conjunctivitis:

• Viral Conjunctivitis – highly contagious, usually occurs suddenly and commonly caused by adenovirus. Symptoms include irritation, sensitive to light, and watery discharge. In severe cases, it may leave scars on the cornea even after conjunctivitis has resolved
• Bacteria Conjunctivitis – more common in kids than adults and can be easily spread. The main symptoms of bacteria conjunctivitis include pink or redness of the eye, burning, itching, sensation of grittiness, mild pain or discomfort in the eye, thick and sticky discharge from the eye, swollen lids
• Allergic Conjunctivitis – Allergens such as pollen can stimulate our body to create more histamines, which cause inflammation as part of our body’s response to what it thinks is an infection. If anyone has allergic conjunctivitis, he/she may experience intense itching, tearing

Dry Eyes

Definition:
Dry eyes is a common condition that occurs when the tears aren’t able to provide adequate lubrication for the eyes and causing discomfort, in some cases, it can cause vision problems. Tears can be inadequate for many reasons such as poor quality tears and insufficient tears production.

Keratoconus

Definition:
Keratoconus occurs when the outer layer at the front of the eye (cornea) thins and gradually bulges outward leading irregularities of the eye surface. It causes blurred vision and may cause sensitivity to light and glare. Keratoconus can only be detected by a corneal topography scan, as the eye will look normal. This condition is suspected in cases of high astigmatism. Keratoconus usually affects both eyes and generally begins to first affect people ages 10 to 25. The condition may progress slowly for 10 years or longer.

Corneal Transplant

Corneal transplant, often referred to as keratoplasty or corneal graft, is a surgery to remove damaged / diseased cornea and replace it with healthy donor tissue. It is a treatment to improve eyesight, restore corneal integrity or as a treatment for uncontrolled corneal infection. The common indications for transplant include advanced keratoconus, Fuchs’ corneal dystrophy, corneal scars and ulcers.

Types of corneal transplant are:

• Penetrating keratoplasty (PK)
• Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK)
• Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK)
• Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK)

Customised Contact Lens Fitting

Get fitted with the right pair of contact lens because finding the perfect fit is important to ensure your comfort as well as safety. During your contact lens fitting, our experts will conduct a series of eye examinations that are typically not part of a routine eye exam for eyeglasses. These additional tests will help in finding the comfortable and proper contact lens parameters as well as the correct prescription.

Diabetic Eye Treatment

Diabetes can damage the blood vessels in your eyes and cause a condition called Diabetic Retinopathy. Also known as the ‘mother of all diseases’, diabetes also increases one’s risk of developing glaucoma and other eye conditions.

Eyelid Reconstructive Surgery

Sunway Eye Centre has a team of highly skilled oculoplastic surgeons who are specialized in plastic and eyelid reconstructive surgery that involves the periorbital and facial areas such as the eyelids, eye socket and lacrimal (tear duct) system.

Our list of services includes but is not limited to eyelid ptosis surgery (to address droopy eyelids); eyelid reconstruction surgery (in the event the area around the eyes are affected due to trauma); and as tumour or growth removal.

Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma is a general term for a series of eye diseases that are caused by optic nerve damage. These nerves are vital for good vision. Glaucoma, one of the leading cause of blindness among those above 60, is typically caused by abnormally high pressure to the eye. If left untreated, glaucoma can lead to permanent vision impairment which can affect daily activities including driving.

Vision loss due to glaucoma is permanent. Therefore, it is important to have regular eye examinations that include checking the pressure of your eyes. When detected early, vision loss can be effectively prevented or slowed down with appropriate treatment.

Neuro-Ophthalmology

Our neuro-ophthalmologist offers services on visual rehabilitation and cerebral visual impairment. Neuro-ophthalmology focuses on visual problems that are related to the nervous system, i.e. visual problems that are not caused by the eye. Our neuro-ophthalmologist works closely with a team of neurologists, neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons and paediatric neurologists to deal with a myriad of ophthalmology cases.

Sunway Eye Centre’s neuro-ophthalmologist also deals with visual rehabilitation to take care of patients with stroke and traumatic brain injury. Patients with these conditions most times are unable to see either on their right or left side. This rehabilitation technique enables patients to improve their quality of life tremendously.

Prosthetic Eye Service

Losing your eyes after an injury or illness can be devastating and damaging to your confidence. Getting fitted with a prosthetic eye helps you to regain confidence and move on with daily activities. Plus, it also creates a balance in your facial appearance and improves the comfort for your affected eye socket.

Prosthetic eyes are available in various options including ready-made and customised to individuals. A custom prosthetic eye, which will be created by our ocularist, will have a better fit and a more natural colouring to match the other eye.

Creating a prosthetic eye is a very meticulous process involving a myriad of details. The damaged eyeball will be removed and replaced with an implant. After the eye socket has healed, you can visit our ocularist to get fitted with your prosthetic eye. Our ocularist will discuss with you the types of implants available before recommending the best option for you. Generally, a prosthetic eye can last up to years or even decades with proper cleaning and care. Professional polishing to effectively remove surface scratches will be advised by the ocularist.

Pterygium Surgery

Commonly known as ‘surfer’s eye’, the pterygium is a growth of the conjunctiva that covers the white area of the eye and cornea. It usually forms at the corner of your eye, towards the side closest to your nose and will grow toward your pupil. The growth can occur in either one or both eyes. This growth can be hazardous to your safety as it can interfere with your vision.

Although pterygium is a benign tissue growth, it can be annoying and limiting to your vision. It can induce astigmatism and change the refractive power of your eye. People with pterygium may experience decreased vision and foreign body sensation. This condition is commonly seen in sunny, hot and dry climates.

Squint Eye Surgery

Strabismus or commonly known as squint, affects not only your self-esteem but vision too. Squint is a condition whereby the eyes point in different direction such as downwards, upwards, inwards or outwards while the other eye looks forward. If left untreated, squint can cause a series of other eye conditions such as amblyopia (lazy eye) and double vision.

Vitreo-Retinal Surgery

Vitreo-retinal diseases cover a large variety of conditions that affect the vitreous and retina that lie at the back part of the eye. Conditions such as uveitis, retinal detachment or tear, macular holes, etc. can be sight-threatening without immediate medical attention.