When should I consider cataract surgery?
You don’t have to have cataract surgery just because you have a cataract — but if you feel it’s interfering with your quality of life, I’d highly recommend it. Cataracts tend to progress, and that can affect your ability to read, drive and live life as you please. Importantly, you don’t need to wait until the cataract is “ripe” or “mature”. You can have surgery as soon as you feel it’s getting in the way of daily activities like driving at night, reading small print, recognising faces or enjoying your hobbies.
How does cataract surgery work?
Cataract surgery works by removing your cloudy natural lens and replacing it with a clear artificial lens (an intraocular lens, or IOL). The new lens sits in exactly the same position as the old one, restoring a clear path for light to reach the back of your eye.
What happens during the operation?
The procedure is quick, comfortable and performed under local anaesthetic. Step by step: I insert a fine high-frequency ultrasound probe into the eye through a tiny incision, which gently breaks up and removes the cataractous lens. I then place a clear, folded artificial lens through the same tiny incision — it unfolds inside the eye to sit where your natural lens was. I calculate the strength of the implant before surgery so it suits your eye precisely, and the tiny incision seals itself without the need for stitches. If you wish, I can also treat your astigmatism at the same time.
Is the procedure painful?
No. Modern cataract surgery is performed under local anaesthetic with numbing drops. Most patients describe it as entirely comfortable and are surprised how quickly it’s over — typically 15–20 minutes per eye. Painkillers afterwards are not usually necessary.
What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Advantages: cataract surgery can significantly improve the quality of your vision, reduce your refractive error, and reduce your dependency on glasses or contact lenses. The risks are low compared with most other types of surgery, and the recovery time is minimal. Disadvantages: like any surgical procedure, it does carry a small risk of complications — which is why every case is assessed and planned individually.
What are the risks?
Cataract surgery, like any operation, carries a risk of complications (around 2%), although serious complications are uncommon. The risk of ending up with worse vision as a result of surgery is around 1%, and the risk of losing vision completely (blindness) is very rare — about 0.1%, or 1 in 1,000 procedures.
Are there any alternatives?
There is currently no alternative to cataract surgery — replacing the cloudy lens is the only way to restore clarity. Glasses and contact lenses can help in the early stages, but once a cataract is affecting your quality of life, surgery is the only solution.
Can I get rid of my glasses?
Potentially, yes. With the right premium IOL — and depending on your prescription and eye health — most patients significantly reduce or even eliminate their need for glasses after surgery. Multifocal, toric and EDOF lenses can also correct astigmatism and restore reading vision.
How successful is cataract surgery?
It’s one of the most successful operations in all of medicine, with more than 95% of people experiencing an improvement in their vision. Your individual outcome will depend on your unique eyes and on any existing eye conditions you may have — which is exactly what we assess and discuss at your consultation.
What can I expect after surgery, and how long is recovery?
Your eye may feel slightly gritty for the first few weeks — easily managed with drops — and may look a little red, which usually settles over one to three weeks. Painkillers aren’t normally needed. Most people resume light activities within 24–48 hours and notice a dramatic improvement in vision within the first week, with full recovery taking about a month.
Do I have to go private to choose a premium lens?
Yes. The NHS typically offers only standard monofocal lenses, which correct distance vision alone. Premium lenses — Monofocal Plus, EDOF, trifocal/multifocal and toric — are available through private cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange (RLE).
Are premium lenses safe?
Yes — we only use premium lenses with a long safety track record and approval by UK and EU medical authorities. Every lens we offer is clinically proven and CE-marked.
Do premium lenses cause glare or halos at night?
Some lenses, especially trifocals, can produce mild halos around lights at night. Most patients adapt well within weeks, but if you do a lot of night driving we may recommend an EDOF lens instead — they’re designed to minimise these effects.
How long do premium lenses last?
A lifetime. Intraocular lenses don’t degrade or wear out, and once implanted they never need replacing. If the capsule behind the lens becomes cloudy years later — a common, harmless condition — a quick
YAG laser treatment restores clarity in minutes.
How do we choose the right lens for me?
Together. At your consultation we look at your daily activities and visual priorities, your eye health and corneal shape, and whether you value night driving, reading or freedom from glasses most. You’ll get a clear, personalised recommendation — never a one-size-fits-all answer.
