Cataracts are one of the main causes of sight loss for older people, and cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures in the UK, with more than 300,000 operations carried out each year (source: NHS Choices).
Cataracts are a painless condition where proteins gather in the lens—the clear part of your eye that helps focus light onto the retina. This makes the lens clouded and stops light passing through, causing your vision to become blurry.
One of the other important things to know about cataract surgery is that it’s a gradual condition, which means that your eyesight will progressively worsen over time, affecting everyday activities such as reading and driving. If left untreated it can result in blindness.
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There are a number of common symptoms associated with cataracts. These include cloudy or blurred vision, seeing double or multiple images from one eye and changing glasses or contact lenses often—as your prescription keeps changing. Colours may also appear faded and you may have poor night vision or problems with bright lights.
Last year Dear Doctor editor Dr Chris Steele underwent cataract surgery on his left eye at the Optegra Eye Hospital in Manchester, which he filmed for viewers of ITV’s This Morning programme. The procedure was carried out under local anesthetic and took just 30 minutes. Recovery was straightforward: Chris had to wear a clear plastic eye guard for the first couple of days and use eye drops for three to four weeks. Just 24 hours after the operation Dr Chris felt no pain, and his vision had already improved.
Speaking to thebestofhealth.co.uk, Dr Chris had this to say: ‘Do not worry, it’s a procedure that’s over very quickly. Within half an hour you’ll be out of there. You won’t feel anything, you won’t see anything and the results are dramatic.’
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Tailored to your needs
Optegra’s approach to cataract surgery is a personal one tailored to your needs and requirements. Your surgery will be performed by one of Optegra’s NHS-trained, world-class ophthalmic surgeons, who will first carry out a detailed, comprehensive consultation with you in order to determine what the best course of treatment is. They will also oversee the aftercare you receive after this surgery, thus ensuring the best standards of care.
Optegra offer a range of cutting-edge cataract treatments that can be tailored to each patient’s individual needs. An important thing to know about cataract surgery is that a typical operation involves removing the lens and replacing it with a synthetic intraocular lens. Optegra also offers refractive cataract surgery, which replaces the natural lens with a sophisticated multi-focal lens that can correct sight problems such as short sightedness and long sightedness, improving your vision significantly.
A consultant-led, personalised experience where you see the same surgeon throughout the entire process, state-of-the-art facilities, no waiting time, transparent pricing and flexible financing options make cataract treatment at Optegra an attractive option. Better yet, they offer numerous other procedures and treatments for a range of sight-related issues, from laser eye surgery to treating conditions such as glaucoma.
If you think you may need cataract surgery or require advice about another eye health issue then visit optegra.com or call 0808 115 9730 to book a consultation or find out about Optegra’s open evenings.
Our thanks to Optegra for their help with this article. To find out more about the important things to know about cataract surgery and their treatments visit optegra.com
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