NewVision Clinics director Dr Noel Alpins continues to pioneer cataract surgery
World-renowned refractive and cataract surgeon Dr Noel Alpins AM has been a pioneer in the treatment of cataracts for close to three decades.
Using the most advanced and proven methods of cataract surgery and laser techniques, including his internationally-recognised approach to the treatment and analysis of astigmatism —the Alpins Method—Dr Alpins has been exceeding his patients expectations by not just removing their cataracts but by reducing or completely eliminating any existing astigmatism at the same time. This allows patients to achieve their best vision without glasses.
It is Dr Alpins’ dual approach to cataract treatment—giving patients a new clear lens as well as a more spherical cornea—which has earned the leading surgeon a reputation for giving clearer vision post-cataract surgery without the need for distance spectacles.
This is made possible through Dr Alpins’ expertise in corneal astigmatism and the use of his ASSORT® software program, which allows him to plan for optimum outcomes.
In his new book to be released in September, Practical Astigmatism: Planning and Analysis, Dr Alpins explains why the Alpins Method and the accompanying ASSORT® surgical planning outcomes analysis program he developed, is helping him and other leading ophthalmologists around the world, achieve such impressive outcomes when it comes to cataract and laser surgery.
The Alpins Method uses vector mathematics to determine the effectiveness of correcting astigmatism and is used in refractive, corneal and cataract surgery. The ASSORT® software uses the Alpins Method to plan and analyse for best eye surgery outcomes.
“The ASSORT® program is an important component for getting accuracy in the implant that goes into the eye ensuring that any need for glasses is minimised after cataract surgery as well as after laser surgery,” Dr Alpins said.
A cataract is a progressive clouding of the eye’s natural lens (crystalline lens) and is the leading cause of vision problems among adults over 55 years. Symptoms include blurred or fuzzy vision, sensitivity to light glare, increased nearsightedness and dulled colour perception.
While some cataract sufferers find improvement by wearing stronger glasses, using brighter lighting or magnifying lenses, ultimately, the only treatment for cataracts is surgery. This involves the removal of the natural, now cloudy, lens of the eye and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) implant.
Cataract surgery is the most performed elective surgery procedure in the world. In Australia alone, over 100,000 people each year undergo the procedure which allows most patients improved vision almost immediately.
Dr Alpins explains in his book: “Accuracy is a key ingredient of the many steps in planning and implanting an IOL”
“The ASSORT® calculator not only helps us at NewVision Clinics achieve outstanding accuracy when it comes to cataract surgery but other surgeons around the world.”
“And this accuracy means that patients having cataract surgery can be free of glasses with optimal vision which is the best result we can hope for.”
To find out more about cataract surgery at NewVision Clinics, please call 1800 24 66 68.
Byline: Rachel Wells is an experienced journalist who spent 15 years writing for The Age and The Sunday Age.