Singapore chosen to test new intraocular lens for cataract patients

Monday October 27 2008

SINGAPORE: Singapore is the only country in Southeast Asia which has been chosen for a clinical trial on a new intraocular lens for cataract patients.

Results of the Phase 4 of the trial on 50 local patients have been encouraging as they now no longer need glasses for far or near sightedness.

During the cataract surgery, the intraocular lens or IOL is used to replace the patient's existing crystalline lens.

Previously, implants may correct only far- or near-sightedness.

But with the IOL ReStor 3 lenses, patients now do not need to wear spectacles.

Dr Julian Theng, medical director of Eagle Eye Centre, said: "In fact, half of them achieve 6/6 vision without glasses for distance and yet all of them so far are able to read....the N5 print, the smallest print that you have on the reading chart, without glasses and at a comfortable reading distance."

"Before I had this implant, I had problem seeing things near. I need to wear 3 spectacles, from reading glasses to computer glasses to multi-focus driving glasses. After (the trial), I have 6/6 eyesight so I have perfect eyesight right now," said Ms Thiang Bee Kin, one of the patients on the clinical trial.

More than 20,000 cataract operations were done in both public and private hospitals in Singapore last year.