Cataract Surgery in Singapore:
Asia Pacific Eye Centre
At Asia Pacific Eye Centre, we offer cataract surgery solutions tailored to restore your vision with precision and care. Our expert ophthalmologists ensure optimal outcomes with minimal discomfort and downtime.
Do I Have Cataracts?
The risk of cataracts increases with age. 78.6% of Singaporeans aged 60 and above have cataracts. Think you have cataracts? Refer to our list of cataract symptoms.
What is Cataract Surgery?
"4-In-1" Cataract Surgery
Cataract involves the (a) removal of the cloudy lens and (b) insertion of an intraocular lens implant. As a result, cataract surgery is able to treat:
- Cataracts
- Myopia/Hyperopia
- Astigmatism
- Presbyopia (lao hua)
Types of Cataract Surgery We Offer
- Phacoemulsification – A new, minimally invasive technique that uses ultrasound waves to break up and remove the cataract.



When should I have Cataract Surgery?
As cataracts progress, vision becomes increasingly worse. Cataract surgery is recommended when vision worsens to the point where it starts to affect daily activities such as reading, writing and driving.
Do not wait too long to have cataract surgery. Once cataracts have reached the hypermature stage, they become “harder” and more difficult to remove, thereby increasing the risk profile of the surgery.
When should I go For Cataract Surgery?
In general, it is recommended that one goes for surgery when cataracts begin to cause inconvenience in their daily lives. If you are noticing cataract symptoms, it is best to consult an eye specialist.
At the hypermature stage, cataracts become harder and more difficult to remove. As such, cataract surgery at a hypermature stage poses higher risks.
Is There Any Way To Prevent Cataracts? Are There Any Other Treatments?
There is no scientifically-proven way of preventing cataracts.
Currently, cataract surgery is the only treatment that is medically-proven for cataracts.
If you are interested to learn more about the surgery, head over to our cataract surgery page. There you can find more in-depth information such as recovery time, surgical process, and choice of Intraocular Lens Implants (IOLs).
What Causes Vision To Be Cloudy Again After Cataract Surgery?
In some cases, patients are able to achieve good vision after surgery but have increasingly cloudy vision after a period of time. This is because posterior capsule opacification (PCO) has developed. As such, PCO is also known as “after-cataract” or “secondary cataract”.
PCO is caused by the migration, proliferation or differentiation of the residual lens epithelial cells. As a result of PCO, vision becomes more cloudy and hazy. People with PCO will also be more sensitive to bright lights and glares. PCO is easily treatable through a 15-min YAG laser procedure.
Intraocular Lens Implants (IOLs)
There are many different types and brands of IOLs in the market. However, they can be classified into two main types:
- Monofocal IOLs
- Multifocal IOLs
- IOLs with one focal point
- Patients can choose between ‘sharp at distance’ or ‘sharp at near’
- See clearly at near: patients have clear near vision but have to wear glasses for distance vision
- See clearly at distance: patients have clear distance vision but have to wear reading glasses
- IOLs with more than one focal point – multifocal, trifocal, extended range of vision
- Multifocal IOLs provide good distance, intermediate, and near vision
What to Expect Before, During, and After Surgery
- Before Surgery
- During Surgery
- After Surgery
- Comprehensive eye examination to assess cataract severity
- Discussion of lens options and personalised treatment plans
- The procedure typically takes 15-30 minutes
- Performed under local anaesthesia, ensuring a painless experience
- Most patients experience improved vision within a few days
- Avoid strenuous activities for a short recovery period
- Follow-up consultations to monitor progress
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)
For patients with both cataracts and glaucoma, Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) provides an effective solution to manage intraocular pressure while restoring vision. MIGS procedures are designed to be safer, faster, and require less recovery time compared to traditional glaucoma surgeries.
How MIGS Enhances Vision Outcomes
Reduces eye pressure safely and effectively
Can be performed alongside cataract surgery
- Lower risk of complications compared to traditional glaucoma surgery
Glaucoma Screening & Testing
Cataract/Glaucoma/Age-Related Macular Degeneration Screening
- Visual Acuity/Auto-Refraction
- Eye Pressure Check (Tonometry)
- Corneal Thickness Measurement
- Optic Nerve & Macular Scan/Optical Coherence Tomography (Nerve & Macular)
- Optic Nerve & Retinal Photography
- Doctor’s Consult
Our Cataract Surgery Specialists

Dr. Wong Chee Wai
MBBS (Singapore), M.Med (OPHTH), FAMS (Ophth)
MCI (Singapore), PHD (UTRECHT)
Senior Consultant | Eye Surgeon
Sub-specialties: Retinal Conditions, Cataracts
Languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese
Fellowship Trained Specialist
Former Consultant at Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)
Former Clinical Lead of the High Myopia Clinic at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)
Started the Surgical Retina Service at Sengkang Hospital
Former Assistant Professor at the Duke-NUS Medical School
- Dr Wong Chee Wai was awarded 3 gold medals for Best Candidate in Cornea
- and Refractive, Neuro-ophthalmology and Ethics in the Eye Specialists’ Exit exam
- Research Training Fellowship Award, National Medical Research Council (2017)
Dr Wong obtained his Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) from the National University of Singapore. He completed his Basic and Advanced Specialist Training in Ophthalmology at the Singapore National Eye Centre, obtaining his Master of Medicine (Ophthalmology) qualification from NUS in 2012.
In 2015, he received his specialist accreditation as a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore (FAMS) as the top candidate in the Specialist Exit examination in Ophthalmology, where he was awarded 3 gold medals for Best Candidate in Cornea and Refractive, Ethics as well as Neuro-ophthalmology. After having obtained his specialist accreditation, he also successfully completed his Vitreoretinal subspecialty fellowship training for both Medical and Surgical Retina at the Singapore National Eye Centre
Dr Wong is also an accomplished researcher, having published more than 60 research articles and holds several research grants in the field of myopia and ocular drug delivery.
Dr Wong has been awarded multiple accolades for his research work, including travel grants, prizes at international ophthalmology conferences and the SingHealth Publish Award in 2015. He also completed the Master’s in Clinical Investigation with NUS in 2015, a PhD in ocular drug delivery with Utrecht University in 2021.
Dr Wong has contributed significantly to training and education in the ophthalmology field, including serving as committee member in the 2nd Asia Pacific Tele-Ophthalmology Society Congress in 2018, 32nd Congress of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology in 2017, the 29th Singapore-Malaysia joint meeting in Ophthalmology in 2014 and the Asia Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Meeting in 2013. He has been invited to present lectures at international and regional meetings in India, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. He has also served as Instructor for a course on retina conditions at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual meeting in 2016, and
He also served as SNEC’s deputy director of undergraduate education since 2018 and was the program director of the Duke NUS graduate medical school’s ophthalmology program.
Dr Wong is also actively involved in the local ophthalmology community as a committee member of the Singapore Society of Ophthalmologists since 2013, and the Chair of the Singapore Society of Ophthalmologists Young Ophthalmologist’s Chapter since January 2020. As part of an ongoing effort to deliver eyecare to underprivileged communities in Singapore, Chee Wai and his team have screened more than 3000 low income elderly patients, performed free cataract surgery and helped many of them regain useful vision. These efforts have received media coverage, awards and recognition from national agencies. He has also been invited to international and regional meetings to speak on Singapore’s community outreach efforts and experience in building the Young Ophthalmologists community. His efforts have been recognized at the regional level, having been appointed to the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology’s Young Ophthalmology Standing Committee in September 2020. He is also an active member of the Asia Pacific Young Ophthalmologists, a group comprising of YO leaders from the Asia Pacific Region.

Dr. Tan Yar Li
MBBS (Singapore), M.Med (Ophth)
MRCSEd (Ophth), FAMS (Ophth)
Senior Consultant | Eye Surgeon
Sub-specialties: Glaucoma, Cataract, Refractive Surgery (LASIK)
Languages: English, Mandarin, Hokkien, Teochew
Fellowship Trained Specialist
Former Consultant at Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)
Former Deputy Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at Changi General Hospital
- Dr Tan Yar Li was awarded 3 gold medals for Best Candidate in Glaucoma,
- Vitreoretinal as well as Neuro-ophthalmology in the Eye Specialists’ Exit exam
- Dr Tan was one of the first few surgeons in Singapore to perform
- Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)
Dr Tan obtained her Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) from the National University of Singapore. Thereafter, she did Ophthalmology residency training in Singapore and qualified as a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. She obtained her Master of Medicine (Ophthalmology) qualifications from NUS and completed a further 3 years of advance surgical training at the Singapore National Eye Centre.
Dr Tan obtained her specialist accreditation as a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore (FAMS), where she was awarded 3 gold medals for Best Candidate in Glaucoma, Vitreoretinal as well as Neuro-ophthalmology in the Eye Specialists’ Exit exam. After having obtained her specialist accreditation, she also successfully completed her Glaucoma subspecialty fellowship training at the Singapore National Eye Centre.
Dr Tan has more than a decade of ophthalmology experience and her current clinical practice includes general ophthalmology, cataract and refractive surgery (LASIK and advanced surface ablation) as well as in the subspecialty field of Glaucoma. She is well-versed in performing cataract surgery with implantation of multifocal and toric intraocular lens for the correct of myopia, astigmatism and presbyopia.
Her current area of interest is in Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) and she was also one of the first few surgeons in Singapore to perform these surgeries.
Prior to her current appointment, Dr Tan was a consultant ophthalmologist at the Glaucoma department of the Singapore National Eye Centre and Deputy Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at Changi General Hospital. She was also actively involved in the teaching of medical students, residents as well as paramedical staff. Dr Tan is currently a visiting consultant at the Singapore National Eye Centre.
Dr Tan genuinely cares for and listens to her patients as she firmly believes that patients’ outcome is the most important, and this can be only be achieved when there is a good doctor-patient relationship, which is the keystone to good medical care. Outside of work, she is a mother to 2 lovely kids and she is an avid runner and baker during her spare time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Cataract surgery is required when vision becomes significantly impaired, affecting daily activities like reading, driving, or recognizing faces.
MIGS involves smaller incisions, leading to faster recovery and fewer complications compared to conventional glaucoma surgery.
While cataract surgery is generally safe, potential risks include infection or inflammation. Benefits include improved vision, enhanced quality of life, and reduced dependency on glasses.
Most patients experience clear vision within a few days, with full recovery taking about 4-6 weeks.
Yes, many insurance plans and Medisave subsidies cover cataract surgery.
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