Several top-tier ophthalmic hospitals in China have recently promoted the combined technique of phacoemulsification cataract surgery with multifocal intraocular lens implantation. Postoperatively, patients not only recover distance vision but also experience significant improvements in intermediate and near vision. According to the 2024 annual meeting report of the Ophthalmology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, the clinical success rate of this combined surgery reaches 98%, and the spectacle independence rate exceeds 90%, far surpassing traditional monofocal lenses.
This technique utilizes a 2-3 mm micro-incision, employing ultrasound to emulsify the cloudy lens, followed by implantation of an adjustable multifocal lens that mimics the eye's natural accommodative function. Currently, institutions such as the Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University and Beijing Tongren Hospital have completed over 10,000 surgeries cumulatively, with an average surgical time of only 15 minutes, and patients' vision typically recovers to 0.8 or better the day after surgery.
Background and Significance
Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide, with an incidence rate as high as 80% among people over 60 in China. Although traditional cataract surgery can restore vision, monofocal lenses can only correct vision at a single distance, requiring patients to wear reading glasses or myopic glasses postoperatively. Multifocal lens technology, through diffraction or refraction principles, distributes light to multiple focal points, achieving full-range vision for distance, intermediate, and near, addressing the upgrade from "seeing clearly" to "seeing well." In recent years, this technology has rapidly spread in China, with an annual growth rate of 25% in surgical volume, and it has been included in some high-end medical insurance plans.
Significance for International Patients
For international patients seeking high-quality medical care, China offers significant advantages in this field: First, surgical costs are only one-third to one-half of those in Europe and the United States; for example, the cost per eye in the U.S. is approximately $5,000, while top-tier hospitals in China charge only $2,000-$3,000. Second, Chinese hospitals use the latest generation of lenses (such as Alcon PanOptix and Johnson & Johnson Symfony), in line with international standards. Third, Chinese surgeons have extensive experience, performing over 4 million cataract surgeries annually, demonstrating high technical proficiency. Patients not only overcome cataracts but also achieve desirable vision, reducing dependence on glasses and greatly enhancing quality of life.
How Mei Jia Kang Can Help
As a cross-border medical platform, Mei Jia Kang provides comprehensive services for cataract surgery to both Chinese and international patients. Our partner hospitals include Shanghai Heping Eye Hospital and Shanghai Aier Eye Hospital, all equipped with German Zeiss surgical microscopes and Bausch & Lomb Stellaris phacoemulsification systems. Patients can learn about transparent costs through cost estimation, schedule specialist consultations, and we offer bilingual (Chinese-English) medical accompaniment, visa assistance, and postoperative follow-up. For more medical information, feel free to contact us or view details of our medical services.
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