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Safety
At Jerry Tan Eye Surgery, we pride ourselves in safety. We
always perform LASIK on one eye at a time.
People have often asked whether it is possible to perform
LASIK on both eyes simultaneously. Though theoretically possible,
there are few medical reasons and no absolute indications
for this to be carried out. It is also necessary to consider
the risks of bilateral infection which can occur with simultaneous
LASIK. A major reason for bilateral LASIK surgery is convenience
for the surgeon.
At Jerry Tan Eye Surgery, Dr Tan has never performed bilateral
simultaneous LASIK since he started performing LASIK in 1996.
He believes that the safety of the patient is more important
than convenience, and takes an uncompromising stance on this.
As such, Dr Tan performs LASIK on a patient’s eyes
sequentially, separating surgery for each eye for a period
of 1 to 3 weeks. This is because most complications (should
any surface) will occur within the first week of surgery.
Patients are prescribed 2 types of antibiotics to cover
all the various kinds of bacteria capable of causing infection
in a LASIK operation. Many centres prescribe only one type
of antibiotic to try and cover any possible infection.
Unfortunately, the sequential nature of surgery may cause
some patients to feel imbalanced because of the disparity
of the power between both their eyes in the period between
the first operation and the second. This problem can be minimized
by the use of contact lenses.
Of all the cases that Jerry Tan Eye Surgery has handled
to date, there has been one case of early infection. The patient
recovered with prompt intensive antibiotic treatment. Today,
his unaided vision is an excellent 6/6 or 20/20 (perfect vision).
This compares favourably to centres around the world where
the average rate of infection is 1 in 5,000.
The 2nd generation Femtosecond laser (IntraLase®) was used by Jerry Tan Eye Surgery in late 2004 to increase the safety during the creation of the LASIK flap. Currently we are using the latest 5th generation 150 kHz iFS™ IntraLase® laser allowing us to further improve safety and visual outcomes for our patients.
Modern Equipment and Technology
Jerry Tan Eye Surgery has, over the past 10 years, utilised 6 lasers – 5 Excimer lasers and 1 Femtosecond laser. We are dedicated to bringing you advanced technology and modern equipment to improve your treatment. The newer lasers are faster, more stable and are able to make the result of your operation more consistent with a shorter surgery duration.
Jerry Tan Eye Surgery has utilised the Wavelight Allegretto 400 Hz Eye Q laser, the first laser specifically designed for Wavefront-guided treatments. This laser treats 1 dioptre (100 degrees) of myopia in 2 seconds for a 6mm optical zone.
The 5th generation 150 kHz iFS™ IntraLase® laser currently used by Jerry Tan Eye Surgery is the latest Femtosecond laser to reach the Singapore market, bringing a whole new standard of speed, precision, and safety for our patients.
In 2010, we are also pleased to offer NeuroLASIK™ to our patients to optimise their visual outcomes after LASIK. NeuroLASIK™ is a combination of Advanced Customised LASIK and NeuroVision™, which will be commenced one month after LASIK and can potentially improve vision beyond the 20/20 or 6/6 line. NeuroVision™ optimizes the processing in the brain, and when applied in addition to your refractive surgery, gives patients a better chance of perfect or better than perfect vision after LASIK.
Experience
In surgery – just like other things in life –
“practice makes perfect”. Dr Tan is the only
surgeon in Jerry Tan Eye Surgery performing LASIK surgery.
There are no trainee or substitute doctors involved in these
operations. Dr Tan started performing LASIK in May 1996. To date, he has performed numerous myopic,
astigmatic, hyperopic, topography guided (Topolink and T-Cat),
Wavefront guided (Zyoptix & A-Cat), Wavefront optimized
and Wavefront enhanced (Custom-Q, F-Cat), LASIK in Singapore.
He has also performed phacoemulsification
cataract surgery since 1990– which is now the most
common form of surgery to remove cataracts in the world today.
Dr Tan personally calibrates the lasers before each case
and checks that all the systems are in complete working order.
He has assembled all the microkeratomes for use in every patient
for the last 10 years.
At your pre-LASIK assessment, Dr Tan will attend to you to
conclude your examination and he will see you personally for
every scheduled follow-up. Should you have an emergency, he
will see you personally. However if you have an emergency
while he is out of the country, you will be referred to one
of his colleagues experienced in LASIK surgery.
Dr Tan’s senior clinic staff have been working with
him for at least 6 years. His nursing officer and senior staff
nurse have both had LASIK done by him, the former having undergone
surgery 9 years ago and the latter 6 years ago. They have
personal experience at both ends of the laser, giving them
better insight to your expectations and concerns. Their respective
surgeries were at their own request, and Dr Tan has never
insisted his staff undergo LASIK.
Results
The Ministry of Health paper Lasik Surgery: Outcomes, Volume and Resources published in Dec 2006, compared the success, predictability and safety rates of LASIK in Singapore for 2005. You may review the results from the Ministry of Health Paper here.
Concern
On the day of surgery, you will be guided through the whole
process of surgery in great detail. A co-operative patient
is essential for highly successful surgery.
If you are worried or nervous, it will be arranged for you
to attend the clinic at least 1 day prior to surgery for a
“full dress rehearsal”. The whole operation is
simulated, right down to laying the patient under the laser
and placing all the LASIK instruments into the eye. This is
done to allay whatever fears you may have, as well as get
you accustomed to the operation environment. Practice makes
perfect for both the patient and surgeon.
These sessions have allowed our most nervous patients to
do well during actual surgery, and are complimentary, as a
part of our service.
After surgery, you will rest in a private, quiet and comfortable
area, lying down for at least an hour. Lying on one’s
back for the first hour has been reported to help better flap
position and apposition. Dr Tan will see you personally after
this first hour to ensure that all is well before allowing
you to go home. This is something he has done for the past
12 years.
You will also enjoy the convenience and comfort of a complimentary limousine service to bring you home after the surgery. These drivers have been specially trained and selected to ensure that you have a pleasant, safe and relaxing journey home.
That same evening, a senior staff member from Jerry Tan Eye
Surgery will contact you by telephone to find out how you
are faring. Feel free to ask any questions and should you
feel uncomfortable, you will be asked to return to the clinic
immediately – regardless of the time – for an
examination and treatment by Dr Tan.
Most of the senior staff who will contact you have undergone
LASIK themselves and will be able to diagnose a problem immediately.
Fortunately, the necessity to call patients back to the clinic
has been very, very rare.
Customised treatments for all patients
All LASIK treatments in Jerry Tan Eye Surgery are customised
to patient’s individual needs. No standard treatments
are done.
Standard treatments can never give the best
chance of obtaining excellent vision, because in standard
treatment, the spectacle power is keyed into the laser (That
is all that is done!). No allowances for the unique condition
of an individual’s eye are taken into consideration.
Customization on the other hand details the irregularities
and aberrations unique to your eye and attempts to eliminate
as many visual distortions as possible. This also includes
those visual distortions created during LASIK treatment, something
that cannot be achieved with standard treatment. The Custom
Q and Wavefront optimised treatment allows us to anticipate
and eliminate created problems.
In fact, Dr Tan has 4 types of LASIK customization in his
clinic. Even so, Dr Tan will discuss with you what is best
for YOUR eye.
Thoroughness
At Jerry Tan Eye Surgery, we don’t cut any corners.
Patients always ask why it takes us 5 hours to ascertain their
suitability for LASIK surgery. We conduct a whole range of
comprehensive tests which are necessary to ensure that you
will have the highest chance of obtaining an excellent result;
As well as to have a better idea on how to customise your
treatment.
Cycloplegic refraction
The most accurate way to ascertain your refraction (the power
of your eye) is a technique called Cycloplegic refraction.
This technique is routinely used to prescribe spectacles in
children for the best accuracy. This test itself takes longer
than 1 hour.
One side effect of this test is the dilation of your pupil
for 2 to 3 days, and as such, performing LASIK within the
2 days following the test will be very difficult, as centering
of a dilated pupil during surgery is inaccurate. Omitting
this test increases the risk of an inaccurate refraction;
some centres still omit this test for convenience.
Dr Tan treats many patients with previous surgery from all
parts of the world. Many sophisticated tests are necessary
in determining a patient’s suitability for LASIK include
corneal topography, ocular coherence tomography and Scheimplug
photography.
Apart from those mentioned above there are the standard tests
and investigations which are required in all cases of LASIK.
Long Term
Dr Tan will enhance your eyes for a small fee even years after
your original treatment, no conditions attached. He will not
enhance your initial treatment if it is dangerous or jeopardises
the safety of your eye. Even after 10 years of doing LASIK
surgery, enhancements have been done for approximately 5%
of all cases involving powers ranging from 0.75 dioptres to
24.00 dioptres (75 to 2400 degrees).
A medical report will be sent to you after your final visit
with Dr Tan. Essential information about your LASIK surgery
will be included in this report, which will help you with
future problems such as cataracts. Should you develop cataracts,
this information will be needed to help calculate the power
of the artificial lens implant accurately. You can request
for a duplicate copy of this report at any time.
You will be given an open date after your 3 month visit and
you will be most welcome to see Dr Tan any time thereafter
should you encounter any LASIK or non LASIK related eye problem.
Dr Tan is a comprehensive ophthalmologist and in addition
has subspecialty training in cornea and External eye disease
as well.
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