Cataract surgery in Chiswick, West London from the UK’s most trusted surgeons

No – unfortunately there is no cure for a cataract without surgery. The only option is to remove the clouded lens and replace it with a new clear lens. There are many types of lenses available depending on your individual needs and whether you would prefer to be free from glasses after surgery.

There are three main types of cataract: cortical cataracts, nuclear cataracts and posterior sub-capsular cataracts. These are based on which layer of the lens the cataract develops in. Our surgeons are experts in all cataract types, and an assess and advise on the best course of action at your consultation.

Cataract surgery is a unique opportunity to significantly improve your natural vision. Because the cloudy cataract is replaced with a new lens implant, this lens power can be individually adjusted for the optics of your eye. This gives the surgeon the opportunity to correct your innate short-sight, long-sight and astigmatism. For many, this means better vision than they would have otherwise naturally had and which might have been limited by the need for glasses. Premium multifocal lenses are available.

Before your surgery begins, you will be given local anaesthetic eye drops to ensure that you don’t feel pain while the cataract surgery is being carried out.

Cataract surgery involves making a cut in the eye to remove the cloudy lens. This can either be done manually, with a surgical blade, or using a state-of-the-art femtosecond laser. Both forms of cataract surgery are safe, low-risk procedures.

To remove the cataract, a hole is made in the capsule bag and the lens is broken up into tiny pieces. Once the lens has been removed, a new intraocular lens (IOL) is carefully inserted using ultra-precise keyhole surgery.

After your cataract surgery, your surgeon will check your eyes again before you leave the clinic. Your eyes will feel tired and gritty for the rest of the day so we advise you to stay at home and rest to help with your recovery.

You will be able to see afterwards, but your vision will be slightly misty for 48 – 72 hours. Depending on what the vision was like before, you may notice a dramatic improvement straight away.