Cataract Surgery by Dr. Kok Howe Sen

Not me this time but my mother-in-law (MIL) who had cataract surgery done on both her eyes at Eye Specialist Clinic Kok & Kok, 96 Jalan Gasing, 46000 Petaling Jaya, by Dr. Kok Howe Sen



Both eyes on the same day, you might ask? Of course not, though it is possible as experienced by a friend of ours who had cataract operation on both her eyes on the same day, one after another, at Wong Yiing Cheong Specialist Eye Centre (WYCEC) in Cheras.

Anyway, my MIL had hers done about 3 months apart, first the left eye in March 2009, then followed by the right in June. Being so advance in age (85 years old), John (her son) and I thought it best for her to do one eye at a time with a rest period in between, even though doctors would advised differently. We didn't want her to be unduly afraid or anxious or felt pushed into an ordeal.

During her first clinical check, Dr. Kok diagnosed that she had cataract in both eyes besides age-related degeneration behind them, the right eye being in a worser condition. In fact, there was little vision in the right eye whereby fingers held at arms length away are vague to her. According to Dr. Kok, cataract surgery to the right eye may improve her vision very marginally. He suggested to do phacoemulsification (phaco for short) surgery to the left eye first as it will have a better chance of improved vision.

We praise and thank God that her first cataract operation was very successful with good vision that was better than expected, without complications and recovery was splendidly quick. Same too for the second cataract surgery to the right eye which resulted in vision as good as the left eye...we were wonderfully surprised! Tecnis IOL lenses were implanted in both eyes, Tecnis Z9001 +18.5D in the left eye and Tecnis Z9000 +08.0D in the right.



Thanks too to her daughter who took good care of her mum, especially with regard to the regimented eye-drop applications and saloon-style hair-washing, daily for about a month after each surgery.

And, of course, a big thank you to Dr. Kok Howe Sen, the eye specialist who performed both the operations so skillfully, and to his team of nurses and staff.

Having gone through a right eye cataract surgery myself early this year at WYCEC and having accompanied my MIL on both of her surgeries at Eye Specialist Clinic Kok & Kok, I cannot help but share my thoughts and conclude the following :-

• Thumbs up to Dr. Kok of Eye Specialist Clinic Kok & Kok! A very skilled eye surgeon/specialist of few words but has a heart of gold. He charges so reasonably, making it affordable to a wider general public especially those handicapped financially. I'd like to positively think he is charitable and in a way contributing to society, though others may think otherwise, a business strategy perhaps? Nonetheless it is a win-win situation that John and I are most appreciative. We know of other eye surgeons that charges RM3,000/= or more for the phaco procedure with the same Tecnis lens implant or of lesser grade and no frills attached too.
  
• His charge for a phaco cataract surgery per eye is only RM2,200/= which is real value for money - not only the patient gets a super-skilled surgeon (he does 6-7 cataract operations per day) but gets implanted with a premium Tecnis aspheric intraocular lens (IOL) from USA for a safer and sharper vision. Included in the package too is the initial RM100/= refundable payment for first consultation, 2 types of eyedrops (1 bottle of Vigamox (moxifloxacin hydrochloride ophthalmic solution) + 2 bottles of Spersadex comp.) and 3 post-op checks (first one on the next day, then 3 days later and final check 3 weeks later). Isn't that great! To me, this speaks volume of his concern for the patient who needs assurance that everything is okay or otherwise.
• We observed that Dr. Kok's clinic was always packed with patients the many times that we've been there. Lots of people with eye-related problems, especially cataract, seek him. He's very focused and organized. I'm truly amazed that he's able to juggle between seeing patients and perform operations during the clinical hours and does it so professionally.
• Dr. Kok's Eye Specialist Clinic is housed in a single-storey building (bungalow), hence very ideal for elderly patients who might have difficulty climbing a staircase had it been otherwise. That was one of the reasons why we rejected WYCEC for my MIL as its operation suite is on the 1st floor and we didn't want to risk her to any danger of falling after the op. Haha, in a way, I was the guinea-pig for my MIL. Unfortunately the phaco procedure on my right eye done at WYCEC with the Zeiss aspheric IOL implant did not produce excellent results as expected, but that done for my MIL by Dr Kok gave her almost perfect sight in both eyes. Thank God!
  
• I want that too for my left eye which has cataract. Without doubt, I'll be going to Dr. Kok for the phaco surgery one day. Probably not before my already operated right eye has fully recovered, with no discomfort of the quarter-moon halo and eye dryness. Pray that'll be soon...when, I wonder....humph, almost into my 7th month after surgery?

Update: Sept 17, 2010
Took my MIL for her first annual post-checkup last week (humph...a little overdue, I know!)
Dr. Kok is very pleased with the good condition of both her eyes. Splendid for her age! Yippee!!

Last edited: 31 Oct. 2010