Key planning information for phacoemulsification surgery in South Africa.
20 minsProcedure time
4 hospitalsList phacoemulsification surgery
Phacoemulsification Surgery in South Africa is priced per case at 4 hospitals. The operation takes 20 minutes. Each hospital quotes its own price for your case.
Hospitals and clinics offering Phacoemulsification Surgery in South Africa
Phacoemulsification Surgery is listed by 4 hospitals in South Africa. The order reshuffles every hour so each gets equal exposure.
Life Healthcare is a leading private hospital operator in South Africa and primarily serves the market for privately insured individuals, representing approximately eight million people. The group provides mainly acute care, high technology private hospital services.
Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital is a large Provincial government funded hospital situated in central Mthatha in South Africa. It is a tertiary teaching hospital and forms part of the Mthatha Hospital Complex.
The extensive hospital network includes 64 hospitals (of which 57 are majority owned by Life Healthcare and another seven in which the group holds substantial minority ownership), providing a range of healthcare services throughout South Africa.
What is Phacoemulsification Surgery?
Phacoemulsification surgery is a procedure to remove a cataract from the lens in the eye. Cataracts are cloudy parts in the eye’s lens and phacoemulsification uses ultrasound to remove them, as well as to remove the front part of the lens capsule. Often an intraocular lens will be implanted in order to compensate for the removal of the natural lens.
How is Phacoemulsification Surgery carried out?
The surgeon makes two small cuts in the eye and creates a circular opening on the surface. Sound waves (ultrasound) through a special instrument destroy the cataract. The cataract and lens particles are removed using suction. The surgeon will then normally place an intraocular lens implant into the lens capsule.
What are the chances of success with Phacoemulsification Surgery?
According to the BMJ, phacoemulsification surgery works better than extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) to improve sight.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (2006), 95 percent of adults were satisfied with the results of the surgery.
How popular is this type of surgery?
Phacoemulsification surgery is the most popular type of cataract surgery, according to WebMD.
Phacoemulsification surgery is preferred over extracapsular surgery because it can be completed more quickly, recovery of sight after the surgery is quicker, the healing process is quicker and there is a lower risk of complications.
About Phacoemulsification Surgery
Key facts to plan your treatment: how long it takes, your hospital stay, anaesthesia, risks and recovery.
Duration of surgery/treatment
The procedure takes around 20 minutes.
Number of sessions required
Usually only one eye at a time is worked on with Phacoemulsification, so if you need both eyes operated, it will usually require 2 sessions.
Days admitted
None. Phaco surgery takes place on an outpatient basis.
Anesthesia
Local anesthesia with a sedative if needed.
Recovery
Patients should rest for 24 hours following phaco surgery but can return to work the next day.
Risks
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (2006), less than 5 percent of people suffer serious complications following phacoemulsification surgery.
Risks include:
- Eye infection.
- Swelling or fluid in the eye.
- Bleeding in the eye.
- Retinal detachment.
- Glaucoma.
- Astigmatism.
- Secondary cataract.
After care
- You may wear a bandage for one night following phaco surgery.
- At night, wear a protective shield over the eye for a week after the procedure.
- You may experience some vision changes for a short time after the procedure.
- Use prescribed eye drops for a month following phacoemulsification surgery.
Hospital Group
Hospital Group
Private Hospital
Private Hospital