ENJOY LIFE WITH CLEAR VISION

Book Your Assessment to see how
we can make it happen for you!

Why Have Cataract Surgery?

Improve Quality
of Life

Cataracts can prevent you from being able to do everyday tasks such as reading or driving, as well as the things you do for fun. You may feel less independent and more socially withdrawn.

Decrease Risk of
Falls and Fractures

As we age, falls become more dangerous (and even deadly). Vision loss is a major contributing factor.

Improve Your Chances
of Living Longer

Results of a long-term study published in 2013 associated cataract surgery with significantly better long-term survival of older people.

Cataract Surgery Assessment

During this consultation we will determine your candidacy for cataract surgery.
You will be assessed by our highly qualified screening orthoptist and subspecialist cataract surgeon.

Determine your vision and lifestyle requirements based on your daily activities

Take a thorough clinical history to ascertain general and ocular health

Perform a series of eye examinations and investigations

Your surgeon will explain your test results and explain their meaning

Discuss potential options for cataract surgery

Plan procedure dates
and organise surgery

Why Choose Vision Clinic Sydney?

Dr Kumar has operated on thousands of cataract surgery patients with exceptional outcomes and has subspecialty training and expertise in this area. At Vision Clinic Sydney we aim to provide tailored and innovative solutions for every eye. We will do everything we can to ensure a highly successful outcome for you.

Precise surgical outcomes: 90% of laser surgeries within 0.5D of intended target refraction, 99% within 0.75D

Excellent Visual Outcomes: 67% of cataract surgeries 6/5 (20/16) or better without glasses, 94% 6/7.5 (20/25) or better

99% of Laser Vision Correction patients 20/25 or better without glasses

Safely optimising vision using state of the art diagnostic, laser and surgical techniques and technology

Meticulous attention to detail ensuring your vision is protected

I’D LIKE TO BOOK IN FOR AN ASSESSMENT

How Much Does
Cataract Surgery Cost?

There are many factors in the cost of cataract surgery.

An uninsured patient will need to account for fees to surgeon, hospital and anaesthetist. Medicare rebates apply to cataract surgery. These fees vary dependant on:

$220 per laser vision correction appointment
Surgical complexity (fee range $1500-$2700 per eye)
Hospital location (East Sydney Private Hospital, Chatswood Private Hospital and Liverpool Eye Surgery)
Intraocular lens option (ranging from monofocal lenses, trifocal lenses, toric lenses, extended depth of field lenses)

An insured patient will need to account for payment to the surgeon and excess if applicable to the hospital. Your anaesthetist, lenses and theatre fee coverage may be discussed with your health fund when organising your surgery.

*Please read the Terms and Conditions at the bottom of this page for more details.

Meet Dr Kumar

Dr Kumar is an Ophthalmic Surgeon with specific and extensive training in conventional and Laser Cataract Surgery, Laser Vision Correction, alternatives to laser surgery, Cornea Transplantation Surgery, the management of Keratoconus and Pterygium Surgery. Dr Kumar is also committed to the management of glaucoma and retina conditions.

Dr Kumar chose ophthalmology because he was fascinated by the complexity of the eye and vision. He is enabled by superior technology and surgical techniques available within ophthalmology to improve vision for patients.

Dr Kumar graduated in Medicine from the University of Newcastle in 1998 and earned a Masters of Public Health degree from the University of New South Wales. He worked at the Sydney Retina Clinic with Dr Andrew Chang prior to completing his Ophthalmology Fellowship training at the Sydney Eye Hospital.

Thereafter, Dr Kumar was awarded the Sydney Eye Hospital Alumni Travelling Fellowship to pursue further training in Cornea and Refractive Surgery.

This component of his training occurred under the guidance of Professors David Rootman and Allan Slomovic at the Toronto Western Hospital and the Yonge Eglinton Laser Centre at the University of Toronto in Canada.

Subsequently he has undertaken a Masters in Cataract and Refractive Surgery from the University of Sydney as part of his ongoing commitment to self education.

Committed to education in the field of ophthalmology, Dr. Kumar is a clinical senior lecturer at the Australian School of Advanced Medicine, Macquarie University. He is a regular reviewer for articles submitted for publication in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the British Journal of Ophthalmology and Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. He has published numerous peer reviewed papers and book chapters involving his specialty interests. He is a member of the Australian, American and European Societies of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Dr Kumar has extensive experience using the femtosecond laser to perform LASIK and cornea transplantations. Given this background, he was amongst the first surgeons in Australia to perform femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery.

Dr. Kumar is committed to the preservation and improvement of quality of vision. He is dedicated to maintaining the highest standard of ophthalmic medical and surgical care

FAQs: About Cataract Surgeries

How long after cataract surgery does vision improve?

Straight after surgery, patients will usually see in soft focus. The following day vision should be clearer. Some patients see the improvement in several hours, though most take 24-48 hours. It can occasionally take 1-2 weeks for vision to settle while the eye adapts to the new intraocular lens implant (IOL).

What will happen if cataract is left untreated?

In most cases, cataracts will continue to worsen over time, causing continual reduction of vision. Many people become legally blind from untreated cataracts, and cataracts can even cause total blindness if left untreated for long periods.

Are there any risks of cataract surgery?

All surgery involves some risk and it is important for patients to understand their risk/benefit analysis, which can only be provided at the time of consultation. For best results from cataract surgery it is recommended to have surgery performed before the cataract causes low vision or legal blindness. Advanced cataracts that cause severe vision loss are more difficult to remove and may increase the risk of cataract surgery complications.

Can you have cataract surgery if you have glaucoma?

Yes, it’s possible to have cataract surgery if you have glaucoma. In fact, in some cases, cataract surgery can lower high eye pressure, reduce the number of medications you need to manage your glaucoma, or possibly eliminate your need for glaucoma medication altogether.

Is the operation painful?

Cataract surgery is not at all painful. Most patients describe a mild sensation of pressure around the eye. In some cases, we may use local anaesthesia (administered via eye drops) or perform a small anaesthetic block around the eye.

We also have the option to offer patients a general anaesthetic if they prefer to be asleep during the procedure or if there are other medical issues that need to be taken into account (e.g. patients with tremors who cannot lie flat for ten minutes).

How long does it take to

recover from cataract surgery?
Some patients see very well the day after cataract surgery. Other patients see well a few days after surgery, and still others may need a full month to reach their maximum vision improvement.

Is cataract surgery a permanent fix?

If you’ve been diagnosed with cataracts, you probably been told that surgery is the only treatment option to permanently improve your vision, and that’s true. Cataracts cannot heal by themselves, or with any sort of medication. Surgery is required to permanently correct your vision loss.

When is the right time for cataract surgery?

Early cataract symptoms often include cloudy or blurred vision impacting a limited portion of the patient’s sight. In the initial stages, cataracts may not have a substantial impact on your vision. Over time, however, symptoms inevitably get worse, usually producing double vision, light sensitivity, halos, glare and a sense of seeing the world through a brown or yellow film. When these symptoms begin negatively impacting your quality of life, it’s time for cataract surgery.

Will I still have to wear glasses after cataract surgery?

In most cases, shortsightedness, longsightedness and astigmatism can be corrected with cataract surgery. This depends on your eye health and previous history of eye surgery. It is also possible to minimise dependence on glasses for reading. Your candidacy for such a procedure can only be confirmed during your assessment by the surgeon.

Is cataract surgery covered by Medicare or private health insurance?

Cataract surgery is only partly covered by Medicare. According to Medibank data, many of those going through the private system are met with out-of-pocket costs. These costs depend on a number of factors, including your excess, which hospital you are admitted to and how much you are charged. This depends on the complexity of your case, and the desired outcome (whether or not you wish to be completely free of glasses after surgery). If you’re going through the private system, be sure to contact your health insurer to confirm that you are covered for cataract surgery. If you are not covered, then you may go through as an uninsured private patient and will need to cover the costs of the day surgery, the anaesthetist and the surgeon.

Have you got more questions? Each patient has unique circumstances; book a complimentary assessment today to discuss the details of your case and learn more about treatment options for you.

Terms and conditions:

A personalised quote will be provided at your consultation. Contact Vision Clinic Sydney to book your surgical assessment. Initial appointments are $500 (inclusive of consultation and testing fees). When a referral and Medicare card are provided rebates will be applicable.
All surgical fees are subject to change. Medicare rebates for cataract surgery are subject to change according to the Medicare Benefits Schedule.
Surgical fees are payable on the first post-operative appointment by cash or credit card payment (excluding AMEX). Any bank transactions or financing payments need to be received in full one week prior to surgery
We welcome the use of payment plans by our patients. If a patient chooses third party financing, they must accept responsibility for the repayment structure, administrative fees and interest charged.
Anaesthetic, hospital and lens fees are charged additionally by third parties. Insured patients may check for eligibility to have these fees covered. A financial consent will be provided at consultation. Uninsured patients may request quotes for third party payments, however we do not accept responsibility for these fees.