It’s the most common operation performed in the UK, with a high success rate in improving your eyesight.
Surgery is the only effective treatment for cataracts and for most individuals this is a straightforward operation, which lasts about 10 minutes, without the need for any needles/injections, as we numb the eye with drops.
During the “keyhole” operation the surgeon makes a small cut in the eye and the cloudy lens is removed by an ultrasonic (phacoemulsification) probe which softens the lens with sound waves and removes the cataract.
The back layer of the lens is left behind. and replaced with a new lens implant (called an intraocular lens, or IOL for short). An artificial lens (implant) is then inserted to replace the cataract. Your new lens implant will be chosen specifically to match the prescription required for each eye and can help correct long or short sighted vision, if required. Sometimes a small stitch is put in the eye.
At the end of the operation, a pad or shield may be put over your eye to protect it. You can have monofocal lenses, which have a single point of focus. This means the lens will be fixed for either near or distance vision, but not both or you can have a multifocal or an accommodating lens, which allow the eye to focus on both near and distant objects. Please click here if you would like to learn more about the different lens options.
Following surgery most patients experience improved vision with no cloudiness, and colours you’re seeing should be back to normal but it can take 4 to 6 weeks to fully recover from cataract surgery.
We understand that every patient is unique and Ms Pearsall will recommend the treatment that is most suitable for the long term correction of your vision. She will ensure your surgical plan is the most optimal for you.
After the operation you may read or watch TV almost straight away, but your vision may be blurred.
The healing eye needs time to adjust so that it can focus properly with the other eye, especially if the other eye has a cataract. The vast majority of patients have improved eyesight following cataract surgery.
Please note that if you have another condition such as diabetes, glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration your quality of vision may still be limited even after successful surgery.
Cataract in your eye scatters and absorbs blue light selectively. After surgery, your lens implant is very clear so a change in colour vision is common. This can be dramatic, especially in the early period after surgery, and can make colours look brighter or bluer than usual.
Most lens implants have ultra violet (UV) blocking built in, but you can use sunglasses when outdoors in bright sunlight to block excess UV light reaching the retina. If you have an occupation where colour vision is critical, you should seek specific advice.
Cataract in your eye scatters and absorbs blue light selectively. After surgery, your lens implant is very clear so a change in colour vision is common. This can be dramatic, especially in the early period after surgery, and can make colours look brighter or bluer than usual.
Most lens implants have ultra violet (UV) blocking built in, but you can use sunglasses when outdoors in bright sunlight to block excess UV light reaching the retina. If you have an occupation where colour vision is critical, you should seek specific advice.
There are a very large number of possible complications after cataract surgery, but many are very rare and it is impossible to detail every single one. It is possible to require another operation or more surgery than planned during the operation. There is a very small risk of serious and permanent visual loss. There is a very tiny risk to the sight of the other eye.
However if you suddenly start to experience persistent flashing lights and/or increased/ new floaters, please attend A&E immediately since those can be symptoms of the beginnings of a retinal detachment. Timely retinal detachment surgery is usually successful in restoring vision.
The most common complication is called “posterior capsular opacification”. It may come on gradually after months or years.
When this happens, the back part of the lens capsule, which was left in the eye to support the implant, becomes cloudy.
©2020 by Ms Tahmina Pearsall