PROCEDURES

Cataracts cause blurry vision and in severe cases, they can start to impact your day-to-day life and ability to function independently. It’s at this point that you may need to consider cataract surgery – a procedure that usually involves replacing the natural lens of the eye with an artificial one (in some circumstances, cataracts may be removed without replacing the lens).
This type of surgery is very common and performed under local anaesthesia, with most patients able to go home that same day and get back to work within the week.

An intravitreal injection is an eye injection – it is used to administer a medication or drug into the back of the eye (a space called the vitreous cavity). They may look scary in practice, but all care is taken to reduce pain and discomfort, although you might feel some sensations of pressure.
Dr Wong uses intravitreal injections to treat a variety of different eye conditions, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema and retinal vein occlusion. They are also used to administer steroids, as well as antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral drugs to fight infections.

When the retina detaches from the back wall of the eye, you may notice a change in your vision, such as seeing floaters, flashing lights and shadows. Based on these symptoms, an eye examination is usually performed to determine the extent of the hole, tear or detachment. Once this is known, the appropriate type of surgery can be recommended to re-attach the retina and seal any tears or holes.

Dr Wong performs all types of retinal detachment surgery, including:

• Scleral buckle – A silicone band is first inserted to help close the tear. A freezing treatment is then used to produce controlled scarring, which will permanently seal the area.
• Vitrectomy – Small incisions are made in the white of the eye to remove the vitreous gel and drain fluid. Any tears or holes are then sealed, and a gas bubble or silicone oil is inserted while the retina heals.
• Pneumatic retinopexy – A gas bubble is first injected into the eye, with the head held in position so the gas bubble sits over the retinal tear. A freezing treatment or laser is then used to seal the tear.
• Laser surgery – In the case of small detachments or tears, laser surgery may be suitable. It involves welding in the tear so it doesn’t spread further.

A vitrectomy is a type of surgery that involves removing the vitreous (gel-like substance in the eye), providing better access to the retina. It is used in a variety of surgical scenarios as the first step for carrying out other medical procedures.

Dr Wong commonly uses this method in the treatment of conditions such as:

Epiretinal membrane – When scar tissue from other eye problems cause wrinkling on the retina, impacting central vision.

Vitreomacular traction – When the vitreous (gel-like substance in the eye) pulls on the macula (centre of the retina), often resulting in distorted or blurry vision.

Diabetic retinopathy – A complication of diabetes that impacts blood vessels in the retina, and can lead to blindness if left untreated.

Intraocular lens dislocation – A condition where the implanted lens (e.g., from cataract surgery) spontaneously dislocates. May impact vision or cause retinal detachment.

The macula (part of the retina) plays an important role in vision, particularly for seeing colour and fine detail. A hole in the macular can therefore have a huge impact on eyesight, causing symptoms such as blurring, dark spots and distortion.
In minor cases where the macular hole is small enough that it doesn’t impact your vision, surgery may not be needed at all. In this scenario, Dr Wong may simply monitor it for changes and wait and see whether it heals on its own. But in severe cases, surgery is required.
Dr Wong treats macular holes with a surgical procedure called ‘vitrectomy’ – vitreous gel (clear fluid between the lens and the retina) is removed from the eye and a gas bubble is inserted to put pressure on the macular hole until it heals.