Private Cataract Surgery in London
Cataract Surgery and Treatment
"Cataract" is derived from the Latin cataracta, meaning "waterfall."
Cataract is when the natural lens in the eye has lost its transparency and become cloudy causing blurred vision, impaired contrast (so issues in dim light) and colours are less vibrant. Other symptoms include changing spectacle prescription and glare in sunlight and at night.
“I felt that I was being cared for by the very best in the field.”
Private patient, March 2023
Cataract surgery is life-changing, helping you get back to enjoying your hobbies and other interests with the confidence you previously had. About 1 in 3 of those aged 65+ will have a cataract that is affecting their vision and requires treatment, and this figure rises to half of those over 80 years old.
During cataract surgery, the cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens implant termed an intraocular lens (“IOL”). In NHS funded cataract surgery, only one type of lens implant is available: a single focus lens (termed monofocal).
Privately, there are no restrictions to lens implant choice, and most patients choose to have a “premium lens.” These provide a wider range of vision compared to a standard NHS monofocal lens, so they can improve your vision at near, intermediate and distance, much like the natural lens you were born with.
The two main types of premium lenses are multifocal or extended depth of focus (EDOF) lenses.
Multifocal lenses or full-range lenses are those with multiple focal points (typically trifocal), providing distance, middle vision and near vision. These lenses work well in people who are prepared to accept some compromise, as even with the latest multifocal lens designs, there will still be some glare or halos in some lighting situations.
Extended depth of focus lenses are the latest optical design of lens implants and provide a continuous range of focus (instead of multiple discrete focal points). EDOF lenses provide greater depth of focus than a standard monofocal lens, but without most of the optical compromises and side effects that are associated with a multifocal lens. These lenses provide a range of focus from clear distance to larger print in good light. Near glasses will still be needed for small print.
Many eye surgeons only offer standard cataract surgery using only standard monofocal lens and no astigmatism management.
Cataract is one of the shortest operations you can have, usually taking 15 minutes per eye or less. Both eyes can be safely treated the same day. As the anaesthetic for your eye surgery is eye drops, and a tiny pellet is used to dilate the pupils, there is no need to worry about any injections or having bloodshot eyes afterwards.
Whilst cataract surgery can be performed with just anaesthetic drops alone (as is standard NHS practice), it is generally much more pleasant if combined with light sedation that works quickly and wears off very quickly with no hangover effect. For this reason, Mr Alex Day’s cataract surgery prices include a dedicated Consultant Anaesthetist whose sole responsibility is to ensure your surgery is totally pain-free.
Femtosecond Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery
By using the Johnson & Johnson CATALYS™ femtosecond laser, some of the steps of the surgery can be performed more precisely than if manually performed by a surgeon’s hand.
Femtosecond laser cataract treatment also allows for astigmatism to be treated at the time of surgery. This is done by creating very precise laser intrastromal astigmatic keratotomies that correct the astigmatism. The gas bubbles absorb within and their effect remains so improving the vision.
The laser component is very fast, taking only a couple of minutes and is painless too.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A cataract is where the natural lens inside the eye becomes cloudy resulting in light being scattered or blocked when it passes through it. Symptoms include:
Blurred vision that cannot be corrected by glasses or contact lens
Glare or halos around lights at night, or glare in sunshine
Difficulty seeing in dim light or at night
Rapidly changing glasses prescriptions
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Most cataracts are age related, and so patients tend to be in their 60s or older, however they can occur at any time or after a previous eye surgery or trauma.
Modern cataract surgery is performed as soon as a person has symptom affecting their lifestyle. Earlier cataract surgery is now preferred as advanced cataract has a significantly higher risk of complications.
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The level of experience and skill of your cataract surgeon.
The accuracy of the preoperative measurements and calculations for the intraocular lens implant (ocular biometry).
The type of lens implant (intraocular lens, IOL) used.
The technology used during cataract surgery: modern technology is small incision phacoemulsification cataract surgery or femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery.
The presence of other eye conditions such as age related macular degeneration or glaucoma, or health problems such as diabetes or previous trauma to the eye.
The healing of the eye after surgery, and the use of the postoperative eye drops.
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Absolutely not! There is no pain or discomfort, and just the occasional sense of pressure.
Most cataract surgery is performed under local anaesthetic drops and sedation. It is short day case procedure, typically taking 15 minutes or less per eye.
The overall time spent in the hospital is typically 2-3 hours.
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Many patients can have, and choose to have both eyes operated on, in one treatment session.
With bilateral same day surgery there is only one admission and one recovery period after surgery than if the surgeries were performed a few weeks apart.
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The vision is usually soft focus immediately after surgery and rapidly picks up over the next couple of days.
Many people can resume work and safe driving with a few days of surgery.
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Almost all do not need to wear glasses for clear distance vision after surgery, however there can never be an absolute guarantee this is the case.
Glasses may still sharpen distance vision a little for example to help with prolonged night driving.
If there is clear distance vision then reading glasses will be needed unless an advanced Extended Depth of Focus or multifocal lens implant has been used. Again reading glasses may still be needed even if these lens are used for prolonged reading, performing very find tasks, or reading in dim light.
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Yes, once all follow up appointments have been completed, you will discharged and you should continue to see your local Optician yearly for normal sight tests.
These are important as people can still develop other eye conditions such as glaucoma or age related macular degeneration.
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