COVID-19 update: We have re-opened our central London clinic. We have many additional safety and spacing measures in place to ensure we prioritise your health and wellbeing.

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0203 369 2020
Book a consultation

COVID-19 update: We have re-opened our central London clinic. We have many additional safety and spacing measures in place to ensure we prioritise your health and wellbeing.

Learn more
0203 369 2020
Book

Private Cataract Surgery

Our cataract surgeons are top 10 in the UK. They perform cataract surgery with advanced technologies including laser cataract surgery, Zeiss Callisto guided astigmatism correction and artificial, intelligence-driven, lens selection. We work closely with lens manufacturers to achieve your best potential vision.

75
years
of combined Eye
Surgery experience
30k
plus
eyes surgeries
completed
550
plus
lectures nationally
and internationally

We're here to help

Click here to get in touch with our expert team and we can answer your question.

What is cataract surgery?

A cataract occurs when the natural lens loses its clarity and becomes cloudy. The cataract causes blurred vision, loss of contrast and can make driving difficult. This can occur at any age, but is more common in people over 60 years old. Cataract surgery removes the cloudy lens protein and replaces this with a lens implant that can correct your glasses prescription for distance and near vision.

cataract lens

Looking for more information on what sets our cataract surgery apart? Our cataract surgery brochure contains all the information you need. View our brochure page to receive your free download.

Visit our brochure page

Cataract surgery is an opportunity to correct your glasses prescription

We use premium lens technologies to correct the patient’s glasses prescription at the time of cataract surgery. This includes long sight, short sight and astigmatism. For many people, this means that their unaided vision is better than they have ever had because their glasses or contact lens prescription has been corrected. Many people will also be suitable for lenses that correct distance and near vision at the same time, eradicating the need for reading glasses and restoring youthful vision.

Traditional cataract surgery is performed manually and involves a small incision being made in the eye to remove the cloudy lens using a highly-sophisticated ultrasound probe, and then the insertion of an artificial transparent lens to clear up the mistiness and restore sight. Cataract surgery is normally carried out as a day-case procedure, and both eyes are usually treated within a single visit (using different equipment).

The procedure typically only takes 10-15 minutes to perform, during which the lens is implanted through a keyhole microscopic suture-less corneal incision. Surgery is carried out under local anaesthetic drops and is not painful.

Premium lens technologies for cataract surgery

Our surgeons work closely with the lens manufacturers to offer the best available proven technologies.

All our lenses have UV filters built-in for added protection. Our lens technologies include the premium Tecnis Eyhance enhanced monofocal lens and Trifocal lenses including the Tecnis Synergy, Rayner Rayone trifocal and Physiol Finevision trifocal.

Click here for more information about your lens choice with OCL.

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Cataract surgery at Ophthalmic Consultants of London

  1. We specialise in cataract surgery for people who have had laser eye surgery.Because our surgeons also perform laser eye surgery they have in-depth knowledge when performing cataract surgery on people who have had previous LASIK or LASEK. This is important as lens calculations are less predictable in prior laser patients. We can also perform top-up laser surgery to achieve optimal results after cataract surgery.Many prior laser patients are keen to be glasses-free after cataract surgery and we are able to precisely screen patients through wavefront technology to determine whether a trifocal lens implant is possible in these cases.
  2. Our surgeons have been voted in the top 10 best cataract surgeons in the UK and they are refractive surgeons who are able to refine the outcomes of cataract surgery by laser surgery to treat residual optical errors to achieve exceptional results.Most cataract surgeons in the UK are unable to offer this second step to enhance results, which is particularly important for obtaining the best results from premium lens implants.
  3. We work with the best international lens manufacturers to offer our patients the most advanced extended depth of focus, trifocal and premium monofocal lens implants, aiming to achieve independence from glasses.OCL surgeons will also always treat astigmatism with toric lens implants or limbal relaxing incisions striving to achieve your best potential unaided vision. We use the AI (artificial intelligence) driven Lenstar biometer for best available accuracy with lens prediction and continually monitor our outcomes for exceptional results. We are able to fine-tune our results with laser eye surgery to achieve your best potential vision.We are recognised by all major UK private medical insurers including BUPA and AXA PPP and are part of their fee assured cataract care pathways.

Cataract treatment - What to expect

You will usually have your cataract surgery 1-4 weeks after the consultation with your surgery. Most people spend between two and two and half hours at the clinic on surgery day, and we recommend that you take at least two days off work.

When you come to have your eye surgery, remember to bring your consent form. It’s also a good idea to bring sunglasses to wear on the way home, and please don’t wear eye makeup.

Many people bring a friend or family member with them to help them get home afterwards, as your vision may be blurry for 48-72 hours. You will be able to see within a few minutes of the procedure being completed, but it will be a few days before you can see well enough to drive. Even if you take a taxi or use public transport, your friend can make sure you pay the correct fare and get home to the right house!

Your cataract surgery

Once at the clinic, the nurses will use drops to dilate your pupil(s). A nurse will discuss the aftercare with you, explaining the eye drops and how to look after your eyes immediately after treatment and in the days that follow.

We will collect your signed consent form before you see your surgeon again to talk through the treatment.

Anaesthetic eye drops will be put in your eyes to numb them. Most of these procedures are carried out under local anaesthetic, although a general anaesthetic or sedation may be used in particular circumstances. The surgery then takes approximately 10-15 minutes per eye. After surgery, you will rest back on the ward for 30-45 minutes.

Immediately after your 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.

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.

Read our cataract surgery testimonials

lady-smiling-on-sofa

I would most definitely 100% recommend. What was achieved for me exceeded my greatest expectations. I am so delighted with my vision that it’s as if a whole new part of me has just hatched!

Read about Ann’s experience

 

Trustpilot

 

What makes our service unique?

1

Treatment tailored for you

You are always at the centre of everything we do. We do not offer a one size fits all approach but rather customise every single treatment to your individual visual needs, so you’ll always get the best procedure for your eyes and your vision

2

The choice for healthcare professionals

Our surgeons are known the world over and are some of the best in the country, with over 30,000 completed surgeries between them. We treat many surgeons, doctors and anaesthetists who also refer their friends and family to us as they know they will be in safe hands with our expert surgeons

3

State of the art technology

We have spared no expense. Eye surgery requires perfect precision, that’s why we have invested in only the latest and most advanced technology. We are not tied into any particular company or manufacturer which means we have complete freedom to choose the best from the many options
available.

4

Experts you can trust

Patients need to be able to trust us with their eyes. We are honest with our approach and offer the very best evidence-based treatment with the your best interests always at heart. We pride ourselves on recruiting and retaining the best staff in the business to ensure that you are supported throughout every step of your journey.

Are there any risks with cataract surgery?

eye examination

Cataract surgery is a safe and effective way to restore vision and serious complications are very rare. 85% of our patients have better than 20/20 vision one month on from the procedure. And 100% of patients have better than 20/40 vision (the legal driving standard) one month on from the procedure. Our surgeons have complication rates of less than 0.5%, compared to the UK average of 3% for cataract surgery. Our surgeons are also recognised as among the best cataract surgeons in the UK as voted by other ophthalmologists.

It’s completely normal to experience a little-blurred vision while your eyesight settles for a day or two, or in some cases for a week or two. Some people can require glasses for distance or near vision after cataract surgery but also have the option of laser eye surgery to decrease the need for glasses. Following cataract surgery, a minority of individuals do experience the onset of visual problems similar to those caused by cataracts, with symptoms including blurry vision and difficulty with glare from bright lights. This relatively common phenomenon is caused by a condition known as posterior capsule opacification, and is caused by a thickening of the lens capsule that secures the artificial lens in place.

Treatment is a quick, simple, routine and low-risk procedure called YAG laser capsulotomy and can be performed as an outpatient procedure. Following this, patients can expect their sight to return to normal within a few days (the same level of sight that was originally restored by the cataract surgery).

Our surgeons are different

The choice of your surgeon may be the most important thing you decide about cataract surgery. Whilst most general ophthalmologists perform cataract surgery, all our surgeons are dual trained in cataract and laser eye surgery. This gives them a unique skill set and approach to cataract surgery that aims to achieve optimal potential vision for the patient.

This is possible because of their ability to use laser eye surgery to refine the outcomes of the cataract surgery for best potential vision. This matters to you for the simple reason that lens prediction in cataract surgery isn’t perfect. As a national average 70% of patients will be within +/- 0.5 dioptres of the refractive target, and 90% within 1 dioptre. 10% will be outside this range. This means that glasses can be needed for best possible vision in some cases including driving.

Astigmatism correction is similarly unpredictable. At OCL we are one of the few clinics in London to use the Lenstar Hill-RBF artificial intelligence lens prediction technology which achieves accuracy of over 95% within 0.5 dioptres of target outcome. If you are having a multifocal lens and are off target or have astigmatism you will not have the best possible vision from that eye without glasses. The fact that our surgeons use AI technology to predict lens power and are able to refine their outcomes by laser eye surgery, where necessary, means that the patient achieves their full potential vision.

Cataract surgery in complex cases

As surgeons that perform corneal transplants and reconstructive surgery we are often referred complex cases from other general eye surgeons including cataract surgery in Fuchs’ dystrophy, radial keratotomy and combined corneal transplantations. Complex reconstructions of the front of the eye are also performed including implantation of artificial iris and pupil segments.

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If you suffer from cataracts, you are more than likely suitable for surgery. That being said, you should book an initial consultation with a specialist, where the appropriate treatment can be advised based on an assessment of your health and any other circumstances.

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Premium lenses

Permanent lens replacement/cataract surgery has evolved from simple removal of a lens/cataract to restoration of best possible vision. This type of ‘vision surgery’ requires the expertise of a surgeon that performs vision correction surgery including laser eye surgery to achieve the best possible results. With premium multifocal lenses this can mean distance and reading vision with minimal need for glasses and correction of astigmatism.

Most often, traditional cataract surgery is carried out and one of the latest premium intraocular lenses will be inserted dependent on a number of factors including your current prescription and personal preferences.

A number of alternatives are available, however, which your surgeon can discuss with you in more detail.

1
Monofocal Lenses

Corrects distance vision (myopia/short-sightedness) only, providing that the patient does not suffer from astigmatism. Glasses may still be required for reading or distance vision.

2
Premium Intraocular Lenses

Can correct astigmatism and/or offer both distance and reading vision (hypermetropia/long-sightedness) simultaneously, allowing patients to be free from wearing glasses entirely.

3
Customised Aspheric IOLs

Lenses can be specially tailored and customised to the individual optical properties of a patient’s eye to provide the optimal quality of vision.

4
Toric IOLs

Correct astigmatism as well as myopia and hypermetropia. Multifocal and Trifocal IOLs can also be used in toric format to address astigmatism whilst addressing near and distance vision.

5
Multifocal and Trifocal IOLs

Are divided into multiple zones which are focused for distance, intermediate and near vision, allowing most patients to be free from wearing glasses entirely.

6
Extended Depth of Focus IOLs

Enable patients to have better vision across a broad range of distances.

7
IOL Blended Vision

The dominant eye is corrected for perfect distance vision and the non-dominant eye is corrected for reading/intermediate vision. The result is independence from glasses for all activities except close reading.

8
IC-8 Pinhole IOL

The new lens is inserted into your non-dominant eye and uses a pinhole design that allows only focused light to enter the eye, giving patients greater independence from glasses for far, near and intermediate distances.

Alternatives to cataract surgery

Femtosecond Laser Cataract Surgery

Femtosecond Laser Cataract Surgery

Our surgeons at OCL perform femtosecond laser cataract surgery with the use of a bladeless, femtosecond laser (the latest advance in cataract surgery), which offers…

Femtosecond Laser Cataract Surgery

Femtosecond Laser Cataract Surgery

Our surgeons at OCL perform femtosecond laser cataract surgery with the use of a bladeless, femtosecond laser (the latest advance in cataract surgery), which offers…

Man & grandson playing
Lens Implant Surgery

Lens Implant Surgery

We can perform innovative lens implant surgery for people who are not suitable for standard cataract surgery or permanent lens replacement surgery, such as patients…

Lens Implant Surgery

Lens Implant Surgery

We can perform innovative lens implant surgery for people who are not suitable for standard cataract surgery or permanent lens replacement surgery, such as patients…

Women Smiling
Phakik IOL Surgery

Visian ICL phakic lens implant

As experts in the treatment of high myopia, at OCL we have extensive research and practical expertise with Phakic IOL technology - the Visian implantable…

Phakik IOL Surgery

Visian ICL phakic lens implant

As experts in the treatment of high myopia, at OCL we have extensive research and practical expertise with Phakic IOL technology - the Visian implantable…

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)

Refractive Lens Exchange

Refractive lens exchange surgery (RLE), also known as PreLex (presbyopic lens exchange), clear lens extraction (CLE) and permanent lens replacement surgery is a type of surgery…

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)

Refractive Lens Exchange

Refractive lens exchange surgery (RLE), also known as PreLex (presbyopic lens exchange), clear lens extraction (CLE) and permanent lens replacement surgery is a type of surgery…

What to expect after cataract surgery

1
When can I expect to notice the effects of the new artificial lens?

For most people it’s within a day, with vision reaching its maximum level of improvement after about a month

2
Will my eye hurt after surgery?

Your eye may feel a little sore and gritty for a few days after surgery. Some patients feel no discomfort at all. Most patients will not experience any major discomfort.

3
What follow up appointments are there?

Patients will have a follow-up appointment around 2 weeks after surgery in order to check vision improvements and address any concerns. After 4-6 weeks patients are required to complete an eye test.

4
Will I still need to wear glasses?

Many patients can completely dispense with glasses for distance vision, although most will still require reading glasses.

If you wish to be 100% glasses free – speak to your surgeon about premium, multifocal intraocular lenses, including trifocal and extended depth of focus lenses.

5
How long does cataract surgery last and will I need surgery again?

In most cases, the effects of cataract surgery last a long time, with the majority of patients experiencing long-term improved vision, free of side effects.

6
When can I go back to work after surgery?

You should be able to return to work within 1-2 weeks after surgery. If you work from home and simply use a computer you can resume work as soon as you feel comfortable to do so.

7
When can I drive or fly after surgery?

You can drive again whenever your vision has cleared and you feel ready. For most people, this takes a few days, but may take longer.

We recommend that for air travel you wait at least one week after surgery.

How much does cataract treatment cost?

Insurance Options

We provide fee assured private insurance services at our flagship Central London clinic and surgery facility for cataract surgery.

We are part of the AXA PPP and BUPA cataract networks; if you’re insured with these companies, we will bill your insurer a pre-agreed package price which includes your cataract consultation, diagnostic tests, surgery and aftercare.

Learn more about private insurance options at Ophthalmic Consultants of London here: Insurance options at OCL

Self-Pay Prices

Cataract surgery – Premium Monofocal lens£2,500 per eye
Cataract surgery – Premium Toric Monofocal lens £3,000 per eye
Cataract surgery – Premium Multifocal lens£3,600 per eye
Cataract surgery – Premium Toric Multifocal lens£4,100 per eye
Cataract surgery – IC-8 Lens£4,300 per eye
Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Surgery£500 per eye

Finance Options/Interest-Free Credit

We also offer 0% interest finance options making it easier to spread the cost of surgery over up to 24 months.

A minimum 10% deposit is required and the balance is split over your chosen monthly period of either 6, 10, 12, 18 or 24 months at a rate of 0% APR.

Get in touch to find out more about our flexible pricing options and how we can make it work for you.