Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology

The Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Department is dedicated to delivering quality general eye care and specialised cataract services. Led by Dr Melissa Wong, Head and Senior Consultant, our department is supported by more than 80 ophthalmologists. The department forms the backbone of primary eye care for most patients.

Our care services:

General eye care services:
- Comprehensive evaluation and treatment for cataracts
- Eye assessments and management for sight-threatening eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration 

Other services:
- Assessment and management of floaters, flashes, dry eyes, eye infections,
- Various retinal conditions such as corneal and ocular surface disorders, eyelid diseases like ptosis-eye injuries 

A wide range of diagnostic and screening services are available, including refraction and optometric services, slit-lamp evaluation, ophthalmoscopy, tonometry, gonioscopy, retina and optic nerve scanning and visual field testing. The department also provides referrals for and coordinates advanced care in subspecialty departments within SNEC.

Why Choose SNEC?

Quality Assurance

• 90% of surgeries conducted in SNEC are cataract surgeries. SNEC performs more than 21,000 cataract surgeries annually with a success rate of 98% to 99%. These take place both at the main centre and at satellite branches. The overall visual success rate is very high at 98% to 99% (patients achieve best-corrected visual acuity [BCVA] of 6/12 or better). 13,919 of the 17,682 cataract surgeries performed in 2014 at SNEC were performed at SNEC's main centre with the remainder carried out at its branches.The average endophthalmitis (sight-threatening microbial infection) incidence rate was very low for the 127,046 cataract operations performed from 2005 to 2014 at 0.0143% for culture-positive and 0.0208% for cases diagnosed using clinical criteria.       

Access to Advanced Lens Technology:

• Intraocular lens research has advanced rapidly over the past decade — from early monofocal lenses to multifocal and extended depth of focus lenses, beyond standard options, SNEC offers improved intermediate vision with fewer visual disturbances. SNEC-SERI is also actively involved in advanced intraocular lens (IOL) research, focusing on developing novel IOL designs to improve vision for patients, particularly those with complex eye conditions.

Training the Experts:

• SNEC organises the renowned cataract surgery teaching courses for local and overseas eye doctors, such as the well-received annual Basic and Advanced Ophthalmic Microsurgical Workshop and train, as well as trains international fellows from countries like China, the Philippines and Indonesia, etc.  

87
ophthalmologists

> 136,300
outpatient visits a year

> 99%
overall visual success rate (6/12 or better)

“Our department strives to achieve excellent results and maintain high quality care. We have the highest cataract surgical volume in Singapore and this reflects the trust that patients have in us. We will continue to upkeep these standards.”

Dr Melissa Wong

Head and Senior Consultant, Cataract and Comprehensive Ophthalmology Department