Start With the Eye Examination Records
The most important part of the case file is the record of your recent eye examination. Cataract surgery replaces the cloudy natural lens, and the treating team needs a clear picture of your eye before planning anything. Ask your current eye doctor for a copy of the examination notes, not just a short referral letter.
The file should show what the clinician actually found. If a test has not been done, say so rather than leaving a gap. A hospital in China can then tell you what it needs before it can give a view.
- Visual acuity results for each eye, with and without correction if available
- Slit-lamp examination findings describing the lens and other eye structures
- Intraocular pressure readings
- Fundus or retinal examination notes
- Any diagnosis of cataract and whether it affects one or both eyes
- Copies of recent scans or imaging reports, such as optical coherence tomography or biometry, if they exist
Include Lens Measurements and Prior Eye History
If you have already had measurements for lens selection, include the full report. These measurements help the surgical team understand your eye's shape and what lens options may be possible. Do not assume that measurements done elsewhere will be accepted without review; the hospital decides whether it needs to repeat them.
Past eye surgery, laser treatment, injections or injuries are also relevant. A history of retinal problems, glaucoma or corneal disease can change how a cataract is managed. Write a short timeline of eye treatments with approximate dates.
- Biometry or lens calculation reports, including the measurement method used
- Corneal topography or keratometry results if available
- Records of previous eye surgery, laser treatment or intravitreal injections
- Any known diagnosis of glaucoma, macular disease or corneal condition
- Current eye drops or eye medicines, with names and how often you use them
Add General Health and Medication Details
Cataract surgery is usually a planned procedure, but your general health still matters. The treating team needs to know about conditions that can affect surgery or recovery, and about medicines that may need to be managed around the operation. Do not stop or change any medicine on your own; that decision belongs to your prescribing clinician.
Keep this section factual and brief. A one-page summary with dates is easier to review than a large unorganised file.
- A list of current medicines, including eye drops, with doses and frequency
- Known allergies, especially to medicines or latex
- Relevant conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or bleeding disorders
- Recent blood test results if you have them, particularly blood sugar or clotting tests
- Any previous surgery or anaesthetic problems
Write Down Your Main Questions and Goals
A case file is not only test results. The hospital also needs to understand what you are asking. Are you seeking a first opinion, a second opinion, or planning for surgery during a trip to China? Do you have a preference about lens type, or a concern about a previous eye condition?
Clear questions help the review team focus. They also make it easier for you to compare any response with advice you already have. Ask what the records can establish and what requires further assessment; a review does not guarantee that surgery will go ahead.
- Your main reason for seeking care in China
- Whether you want a records-based opinion or are ready to plan a visit
- Any specific questions about lens options, timing or follow-up
- Your general location and preferred language for communication
- Whether you can travel for examination and how soon you hope to do so
How to Organise and Send the File
Organise records by type and date. Use clear file names and, where possible, provide English translations or a short summary of non-English reports. Do not send passport numbers, payment details or a complete lifetime medical archive at the first contact. A brief summary and the key eye records are enough to begin.
After the initial enquiry, the coordination team can explain how to share larger files securely. The hospital will decide whether it can review the case and what further information it needs. Any coordination service is separate from hospital fees, and an initial enquiry is free.
- Group records into eye examination, measurements, general health and your questions
- Label each document with the date and the clinician or hospital that issued it
- Keep the first message short and attach only the most relevant reports
- Wait for guidance before sending sensitive identity documents
Sources & scope of this guide
References and official service information relevant to this guide.
This is general planning information and has not been individually reviewed by a doctor. Medical decisions and personal treatment advice come from your treating clinicians.