Cataracts: condition and surgery

What are cataracts?

Cataracts are a very common eye condition that usually develop as you age. They develop when the eye’s clear lens forms cloudy or misty patches. Although cataracts won’t usually cause any damage, they often impact your vision, making it seem like you’re looking through a frosty window. So treatment is often recommended to help restore your vision and get you back to doing what you love.

Learn more about cataracts with Nigel Kirkpatrick, consultant ophthalmologist and partner at Newmedica Gloucester.

What are the symptoms of cataracts?

Cataracts can form in one or both eyes and typically develop slowly over several years, so you might not notice any symptoms at first. But usually, you’ll experience blurred or cloudy vision, or have patches where your vision isn’t as clear. It’s a bit like looking through a frosted or foggy window. Cataracts can also cause glare or haloes around lights, which means you might struggle to see your surroundings clearly.

Making private cataract care more affordable to more people

We offer a range of high quality lenses for distance and intermediate vision starting from just £2295 per eye, so we’ll ensure you can get back to doing what you love as quickly as possible.

What is cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery is a common procedure that involves removing the cloudy lens (cataract) and replacing it with a new, artificial lens (known as an intraocular lens) to restore your clear vision.

Who might need cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery is recommended when it starts getting difficult to see and carry out your normal day-to-day activities. Surgery is the only treatment available for cataracts at the moment. Without surgery it’s likely that it will gradually get worse over time.

What are the benefits of cataract surgery?

The most obvious benefit is the improvement in your vision. Surgery restores clarity and stops your vision from changing any further. You might also notice an improvement in sharpness, brightness and your perception of colour.

Cataract surgery also offers a chance to correct your glasses prescription, so you can reduce your dependence on glasses. Sometimes you might not need to wear your full-time glasses at all after surgery.

What happens during cataract surgery?

Post operation

After surgery, we might recommend popping a small plastic shield over your eye to protect it from any accidental damage. We’ll do this for you after surgery if needed and you can reapply once you get home if you prefer.

You’ll need to use eye drops for about three weeks after your surgery. These are prescribed by your consultant, and we’ll make sure you know how and when to use them before you go home.

You can go home on the same day, but you won’t be able to drive straight away. We’d recommend that you have someone you can contact for about 24 hours after your procedure, just in case you need a bit of help when you get home.

We’ll give you a call the next day to make sure you’re okay, that your vision is returning and you’re happy with how to use your eye drops. We’ll also arrange the necessary follow-up appointments with your consultant or preferred optician to make sure your recovery is on track and your vision is clear.

What’s the difference between NHS and private cataract surgery?

There are a few differences when it comes to NHS and private cataract surgery.

1. When you can have surgery
   Sometimes you might have to wait a little longer to receive cataract surgery on the NHS. This is because the NHS have certain thresholds, usually linked to impact on vision, to qualify for NHS cataract treatment. If you decide to go private for your cataract surgery, you can have the procedure when you feel that your vision is affecting your lifestyle, so you don’t necessarily need to meet the local NHS guidelines.
   

2. Your lens options
   During cataract surgery, your cloudy lens is replaced with a lens implant. The type of lens you choose will determine how well you see without glasses after your cataract surgery. With NHS cataract surgery, the standard replacement used is called a monofocal lens, which improves your vision for a specific distance (like up close or far away).

With private surgery you can still have a monofocal lens replacement, but you also have the option to choose a different type of lens which could reduce your dependency on glasses after your surgery (at an additional cost). This includes:

• A multifocal option – for good distance, intermediate and up-close vision.

• An extended focus option – which provides a continuous focus over a range of distances.

If you have astigmatism (where the cornea at the front of the eye is shaped more like a rugby ball than a football), you can get the right correction incorporated into any of these specialist lenses. This type of corrective lens is known as toric, which you might have heard of before if you wear contact lenses.

Your consultant will talk through all your options for you to think about before having surgery, so you can decide what’s right for you and your lifestyle.