A short-sighted eye has too much focusing power. Images are focused in front of the retina – the area at the back of the eye that interprets images – rather than directly on its surface, resulting in blurred distance but clear near vision.

A long-sighted eye has too little focusing power. Images focus behind the retina, blurring near vision and in severe cases may affect distance vision as well. Hyperopia is not age-related, unlike presbyopia. <![endif]–>

Astigmatism is an irregularity in the shape of the cornea. Instead of being round, like a football, it is oval like a rugby ball or egg. Images focused on the retina are distorted, blurring vision at all distances. Astigmatism usually occurs with either myopia or hyperopia (short-sightedness or long-sightedness)

This is the dependence on reading glasses that comes to most people with age. The lens inside the eye becomes less flexible with time and so cannot focus on close objects. Presbyopia may occur on its own or with any of the other refractive errors.

These are tiny focusing imperfections which decrease the quality of vision. They are as unique to every eye as a fingerprint. Whilst wavefront abnormalities are often not corrected by glasses or contact lenses, they may be successfully treated by laser.

Here are some of the conditions that Laser Vision Correction, also known as Laser Eye surgery cannot treat. However, by having a free, no obligation consultation with one of Optegra’s eye experts we may be able to help you. Keratoconus is a progressive condition leading to the abnormal thinning and steepening of areas of the... Read More »

Optegra has invested in the most advanced laser available anywhere in the world today, to ensure the best possible results for our patients. The Wavelight CONCERTO laser works at 500 megahertz per second, thus allowing the patient’s experience to be quicker and more comfortable. Having a faster laser reduces the risk of infection and dry... Read More »

Laser eye surgery can correct most refractive errors depending on your age, however as the natural lens of the eye ages due to presbyopia, but most people will naturally need reading glasses at some point as the eye continues to age.

We recommend all of our patients to spend a little time resting with us before leaving. After a quiet evening at home and good night’s sleep, your eyes will be feeling much more comfortable and you will be able to return to work – with a superb new quality of vision. And, of course, your... Read More »

Your Consultant will administer eye drops containing local anaesthetic so the treatment will be painless. Following treatment, LASIK patients may experience a gritty feeling for the first day. LASEK patients may experience this for a few days, and painkillers are provided to minimise discomfort.

It is important to remember that all surgical procedures carry some risks. However, the complication rate in refractive surgery is under 1% and most complications are minor. Your Consultant will be happy to discuss any concerns with you.

Clarivu – refractive lens exchange (RLE) is very safe, although no surgery is without risk. RLE surgery is performed in the same way cataract surgery is performed, which is the most common form of surgery in Western Europe. The difference is that an advanced intra ocular lens is inserted into the eye, rather than the regular... Read More »

You should visit Optegra and undergo rigorous eye examination during your consultation to determine which is the best solution for your vision requirements. Your consultant surgeon will advise you during your free consultation which is the most suitable procedure for your requirements.

Anyone who has experienced a form of skin cancer should examine their skin regularly, as there may be a risk of a secondary cancer developing. People who have suffered from cancers of the face or eye area should protect their skin from sunlight with a high factor sun cream and 100% UV sunglasses, and should... Read More »

If you smoke or use any form of nicotine, stop now. Try to eat a well-balanced diet, drink plenty of water, get lots of sleep and exercise regularly. You could also consider taking a multi-vitamin supplement. Three weeks before surgery, stop all vitamin E, aspirin, ibuprofen and other over-the-counter blood thinners. If you use prescription... Read More »

Your surgeon will make every effort to make your eyelid appearance as good as possible. Your lid may be swollen for a week or two after the operation, and the final height of the lid is often not apparent until after this time. There is often a continued improvement in the appearance for several months... Read More »

The best way to slow or halt the progression of thyroid eye disease is by stopping smoking, and by monitoring the thyroid blood level.

Like any surgery, Glaucoma laser surgery can cause side effects, such as inflammation. We provide drops to treat any soreness or inflammation inside the eye. Following conventional surgery, vision can be blurred for up to six weeks, but usually returns to the same level it was prior to surgery. Other possible side effects are cataracts... Read More »

This depends on your personal condition, however many patients need to continue taking their glaucoma medicine after surgery.

In some cases pressure in the eye may begin to increase after time. If this happens, glaucoma drops or another operation may be necessary.

People with diabetes may be at a higher risk of retinal problems, therefore we would recommend an annual retinal screening to anyone suffering from diabetes. If a retinal problem is detected, early treatment is key to maintaining a good level of vision.

Vitrectomy surgery is performed with local anaesthetic, which completely numbs the eye and surrounding tissues, making it a pain-free procedure. If you feel very apprehensive, however, you should not hesitate to ask your surgeon for intravenous sedation. The actual procedure takes between 30 and 60 minutes, and although most people feel some discomfort after the... Read More »

Your level of vision post-treatment will depend on the exact procedure used. Patients who receive macular hole surgery can experience a low level of vision for 2-3 weeks after surgery, but vision should return fairly quickly after this time. In other retinal procedures, however, a good level of vision will be restored quickly over the... Read More »

Your surgeon will advise you of any activities or environments to avoid following your surgery. The main area of caution is around flying, which should be avoided if you have received macular hole surgery.

Because it only affects the central retina, AMD almost never leads to total blindness. However, if left untreated, this condition can result in black holes or dim images at the centre of the eye, with only outer peripheral vision remaining.

The most common symptom of dry AMD is a slight blurring of the vision. You may also experience difficulty recognising faces, and may need more light for reading and other tasks. Dry AMD generally affects both eyes, but vision can be lost in one eye while the other eye seems unaffected.

The best way to avoid AMD – or any degenerative eye condition – is to ensure that you eat a healthy diet, stop smoking and maintain a low blood pressure. Once over the age of 40, regular eye tests every 1 to 2 years will highlight any abnormalities in the eye.

Successful treatment of wet AMD depends on prompt intervention. If you begin to notice distortion or waviness in straight lines or flat surfaces, you should contact your doctor immediately.

A cataract is a painless clouding of the lens of your eye. The lens is a clear part of your eye that helps to focus light, or an image, on the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. A cataract generally develops over a long period of time, causing your eyesight to get progressively worse. Your vision becomes blurred because the cataract acts as if you are looking through frosted glass which interferes with your sight –and at best is inconvenient and at worst can lead to blindness if left untreated.

Do you feel your eyesight has deteriorated? Are you having problems driving or with work or hobbies? If your vision has become a lot worse or can’t be corrected by changing your prescription lens, it could be time to consider cataract surgery.

At present, the only corrective treatment for a cataract is surgery. If the cataract is not removed, vision will gradually get worse and they can, if severe, lead to blindness if left untreated. The decision to have cataract surgery is made by you discussing with your Optegra eye surgeon if and how much your lifestyle... Read More »

Cataract cannot spread from eye to eye but it does tend to develop in both eyes at the same time, but often asymmetrically.

If left untreated, a cataract can gradually lead to blindness. You may not even realise you have a cataract because the changes can be gradual. Your vision could grow worse and worse over a period of months, although some people experience fast deterioration in a matter of weeks. It varies from person to person, and... Read More »

You will benefit from cataract surgery when vision loss interferes with your everyday activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV.

You are never too old to have cataract surgery. If it will improve your vision and make daily activities easier, it is usually a good idea to have surgery.

The CQC are the independent regulators of health and social care in England. They regulate care provided by the NHS, local authorities, private companies and voluntary organisations. Their aim is to make sure better care is provided for everyone - in hospitals, care homes and people's own homes. They also seek to protect the interests of people whose rights are restricted under the Mental Health Act.

With today’s advanced methods and ultra-modern equipment, cataract surgery enjoys a very high success rate of patients who experience improved vision with no complications. For those few patients with no improvement, there is usually a different underlying eye condition, such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.

At Optegra, cataract removal is safe, swift and highly effective, with many of our patients commenting that it was one of the best decisions they ever made. Cataract surgery is typically performed under local anaesthetic on an out-patient basis and can take less than 20 minutes per eye. Optegra’s consultation to procedure timescale is one of the fastest available, so why wait to get your vision back? We want you to feel as calm and comfortable as possible throughout your visit and we will go out of our way to give you complete peace of mind. The cataract procedure is simple, with a rapid recovery time.

Typically, your consultant will not perform the cataract procedure on both eyes at the same time. Each eye will require separate procedures, although they can both generally be done within a few weeks of each other.

Yes, you will be awake during the procedure however we will use a local anaesthesia to numb the eye and the area surrounding it. The reason for this is because the surgery itself only takes a couple of minutes so it is an unnecessary risk to put you to sleep.

The operation itself is pain free. Afterwards, you may experience itching and mild discomfort, which is normal. These should disappear in just one or two days.

Yes, you must arrange for transportation to and from the hospital on the day of surgery as your vision will be slightly blurred and will not meet the national driving standards. We advise bringing a friend or family member along with you.

No, the surgery itself only takes a couple of minutes and the majority of your recovery can be done in the comfort of your own home.

Your vision will be blurry at first and you may be asked to wear a protective patch. Your sight should return a few hours after the operation and your vision should improve quickly over the next week or two, reaching its optimum at 4-6 weeks.

Cataract surgery replaces the lens with a clear lens which means any existing or future long or short-sightedness problems will still exist. However we do offer an alternative to cataract surgery called Clarivu which corrects both long and short-sightedness and eliminates cataract in one simple procedure, by replacing the natural lens with a sight accommodating... Read More »

No, once a cataract has been removed it cannot return in the same eye.

During your whole Optegra experience you will be accompanied by the same team of people, within this team you will be given a main point of contact should you have any questions, urgent or otherwise, before or after the surgery. After the surgery you are also given a 24 hour helpline you can call in... Read More »

You will normally only require one follow-up appointment after each procedure, shortly after your surgery. If you need further appointments your consultant will let you know, and if required are included in the price.

New Wavefront technology means more complex prescriptions can now be treated with laser eye surgery. If you are not suitable, Optegra offers the option of Intra Ocular Lenses (IOLs), refractive lens exchange surgery and much more.

Optegra offers a comprehensive aftercare programme in which LASIK patients can come back the day after treatment, followed by 1 week, 1 month and 3 month check-ups. LASEK patients come back 4-7 days for contact lens removal, followed by 1 week, 1 month and 3 month check ups.

Laser Vision Correction is permanent, but most people will naturally need reading glasses at some point as the eye continues to age.

Following your consultation we advise you to wait at least 48 hours before having treatment. This is to allow you enough time to consider the outcome and benefits to your life.

Prolonged wearing of contact lenses can change the corneal surface of the eye, affecting the accuracy of diagnostic measurements. So before your consultation please leave soft contact lenses out for a minimum of 7 days, and rigid gas permeable lenses out for a minimum of 2 weeks. If you have worn hard contact lenses for more than 10 years, please leave them out for an extra week for every decade worn. Before your treatment, please leave soft lenses out for 1 week and hard lenses out for a minimum of 2 weeks.

Patients can usually return to work within 24 hours after LASIK treatment and within a few days after LASEK treatment. However, every individual is different and it is important that you take as much time as you need to recover.

Yes, most people have both eyes treated at once.

Your ophthalmic surgeon will administer eye drops containing local anaesthetic so the treatment will be painless. Following treatment, LASIK patients may experience a gritty feeling for the first day. LASEK patients may experience this for a few days, and painkillers and anaesthetic drops are provided to minimise discomfort.

You can, but you must not get water in your eyes for 2 weeks. This is to minimise the risk of infection.

You must not wear eye make-up for 2 weeks after treatment. This is to minimise the risk of infection. One option is to have an eyelash tint prior to your treatment.

Following treatment you should not use the gym for one week, or swim for 4 weeks. Contact sport should not be played for 3 months. Sun beds should not be used for 3 months.

It is very important that you DO NOT rub your eyes at all for 2 weeks, as this will inhibit the healing process.

It is important to remember that all surgical procedures carry some risks. However, the complication rate in Laser Vision Correction is under 1% and most complications are minor. Your surgeon will be happy to discuss any concerns with you.

It is recommended that you have a light meal before you come into the hospital for your treatment.

DO NOT fly for at least 1 week after treatment. This is due to the dry atmosphere and increased pressure inside the plane.

It is advised not to use computers or watch television for 1-2 days after treatment to avoid your eyes becoming dry, but this advice is taken at your own discretion. If you use a computer at work you should do so for shorter periods of time, take breaks and use the lubricating eye drops provided... Read More »

Optegra Manchester Eye Hospital is a privately run hospital. The Manchester Royal Eye Hospital is run by Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Although some of Optegra’s consultants currently operate under contract at both locations, the hospitals are distinct and unconnected.