Cataract Surgery

The symptoms of early cataracts may be improved with new glasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses.

If these measures do not help, surgery is the only effective treatment. Surgery involves removing your cloudy lens and replacing it with a permanent synthetic lens (implant) individually selected to give you the highest quality of vision possible for you and your lifestyle.

Your cataract may need to be removed when vision loss interferes with your everyday activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV.

Why not find out through a no-obligation comprehensive consultation with one of our dedicated eye surgeons who will explain the benefits and risks of surgery, where you can have all your questions answered and you can make an informed decision about whether cataract surgery is right for you.

The cataract operation

Click below to play the animation.

The cataract removal procedure is straightforward and there’s no need to wait until the cataract is ‘ripe’ before having it removed. At Optegra, we perform cataract surgery under local anaesthetic – you are awake throughout the whole procedure but won’t feel a thing. You are treated as an out-patient and the whole procedure lasts around 20 minutes for each eye.

The Optegra surgeon uses Phacoemulsification; a tiny incision is made on the eye surface and ultrasound energy used to break up the cloudy lens. This is then removed and replaced with the new technologically advanced, permanent synthetic lens.

Most cataract patients can resume their everyday tasks within a few days of their surgery, although it is advisable to keep clear of physically demanding activities in the early recovery stage. Your consultant will discuss with you what you should and shouldn’t do in order to achieve the best possible outcome for you. To help your eye recover naturally, drops will be provided and you will be given a 24 hour contact number.

Am I suitable for cataract surgery?
If you have any of the typical symptoms or your sight has become cloudy as if you are looking through frosted glass, then you may have a cataract.  Why not find out through a no-obligation comprehensive consultation with one of the dedicated eye care surgeons at Optegra.

When should I have my cataract removed?
At present, the only corrective treatment for a cataract is surgery. If the cataract is not removed, vision will gradually deteriorate.  

The decision to have cataract surgery is made by discussion with your Optegra eye surgeon about if and how much your lifestyle is being hampered unnecessarily.

If you are a driver you must reach the visual standard required by the DVLA, so it may be necessary to have the cataract removed in order to keep your license.   

Simply book an initial comprehensive consultation. You’ll spend personal time with an optometrist and expert eye surgeon in a range of tests to examine and measure your eyes in detail. This will provide us with a detailed understanding of your condition and your needs and determine your suitability for the procedure.

Book your no-obligation consultation with an expert Optegra eye surgeon or call us on 0800 358 0825.

What if you wear glasses or contact lenses?
If you have a cataract and wish to reduce your dependence on reading and distance glasses,  Optegra can also give you the additional benefit of vision correction with Clarivu, Total Vision Correction.  Clarivu is a sophisticated development of the cataract procedure which can correct both long and short-sightedness and eliminates cataracts in one simple, permanent lens replacement procedure. 

Visit Clarivu.com to book your Clarivu consultation at the Optegra eye hospital in Birmingham, Manchester, Solent, Surrey or Yorkshire or call 0800 368 4848 to find out more.