As you age, your natural eye lens becomes thicker and eventually cloudy. The first thing you may notice is difficulty in focusing for near. You may need to get reading glasses to be able to cope with small print. Seeing clearly at arm-length distance may also become difficult. As the lens thickens further, it becomes sufficiently cloudy to be called a cataract. Your lens will never clear again and so it will need to be removed to help you see clearly again. Your vision may continue to decline, even with glasses. Glasses may become an inconvenience, that you have to rely on. They may interfere with your work, hobbies or social life. Some people don’t like how they look in spectacles.
Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery removes the cloudy natural lens and replaces it with a clear plastic lens to give you clear vision and enjoy life.
Summary
Development of Cataracts
Cataract Surgery versus Refractive Lens Exchange
Cataract Surgery removes the cloudy lens and gives a unique opportunity to correct your spectacle correction. At the time of surgery your cloudy lens is replaced by plastic lens of a specific power to correct your vision, so you don’t need glasses for distance. In addition, there are a range of special lenses that can correct astigmatism and also allow clear focusing at intermediate distances and near. For many people this can allow crystal clear glasses-free vision, at all distances. For those people who are yet to develop a visually significant cataract they can take advantage of the same surgery, now called Refractive Lens Exchange, to insert a special lens to also allow crystal clear glasses-free vision, at all distances.
Aims of Cataract Surgery
Successful Cataract Surgery
The Process
During your first clinic visit your consultant will ask about your general medical history and specific eye problems. You will have a thorough eye examination to determine the presence and type of any cataract. Together we will decide on the best new lens for you.
You will have a cataract assessment appointment with our Cataract Sister. She will explain in detail all about the cataract operation and follow-up. She will take detailed measurements of your eyes to determine the required power of your new lens.
Your surgeon will carry out your cataract operation under local anaesthetic. They will ensure that you eye is numbed using drops and/or an injection. You will be awake throughout surgery. If you would like sedation, we can arrange this with one of our consultant anaesthetists. You should not feel any pain or discomfort.
During cataract surgery, the consultant will open the outer lining of the natural lens to remove the cloudy contents using an ultrasound machine and lots of water. Your surgeon will then place a new artificial lens inside the eye, allowing you to see more clearly. You will go home with drops to take. Your recovery time following cataract surgery is expected to be very short, within a day or two your sight will be restored.
Why MY Eye Clinic?
Expert consultant assessment of cataracts. If you have not previously had refractive surgery, the initial appointment for cataract surgery is free.
Provision of Toric lenses which correct astigmatism and Multifocal lenses can offer corrected vision for distance, intermediate and near vision.
A full refractive service, Site for Eyes, which offers laser eye surgery (LASIK/LASEK), clear lens extractions and cataract surgery with special lenses (toric/multifocal).
A new operating theatre suite which is fully-equipped with the latest generation cataract machine (Alcon Centurion Gold), an excellent operating microscope and a new (Dorc Nexus) combined cataract and vitrectomy machine.
Your Consultants
Consultant Eye Surgeon with a specialist interest in Medical Retina
Mr Kotagiri completed his training in Opthalmology from Worthing and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He further completed a fellowship in Medical Retina at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London and Sunderland Eye Infirmary. He has been a Consultant in Medical Retina at Sunderland Eye Infirmary since 2014.
M.B.B.S., Dip. Ophthalmology, MRCOphth, FRCOphth (London)
Saurabh Ghosh M.B.B.S., Dip. Ophthalmology, MRCOphth, FRCOphth (London) is leading Consultant ophthalmologist specialising in Refractive lens exchange and Laser Eye surgery in the North East of England. He specialises in Lens based vision correction surgery with premium lens to correct distance and near vision, Laser eye surgery, Cataract surgery, Corneal transplant surgery and other corneal surgery.
B Med Sci., BMBS., MRCP., FRCOphth
Mr Gupta's interests include diabetic retinopathy, vascular disorders, age-related macular degeneration and cataract surgery. He previously acted as the regional Diabetic Eye Screening Program lead for over 5 years and is currently the Head of School overseeing ophthalmic training in the Northern deanery.
Consultant Eye Surgeon with a specialist interest in Retinal Surgery
Mr Habib has a special interest in macular hole surgery, epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery, surgery for vitreous floaters, and treating complicated cataracts. Mr Habib has been a Consultant Ophthalmologist and Vitreo-retinal Surgeon at Sunderland Eye Infirmary since 2011. He is an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University.
Consultant Eye Surgeon with a specialist interest in Glaucoma
Mr Doherty undertook undergraduate and postgraduate medical training in Newcastle upon Tyne before proceeding to Ophthalmology specialist training in both the Northern and Yorkshire Deaneries. He subsequently completed an eighteen-month Glaucoma subspeciality fellowship at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. He was appointed as a Consultant in Glaucoma and Cataract treatment at Sunderland Eye Infirmary in September 2013.
Consultant Eye Surgeon with a specialist interest in Glaucoma
Mr El-Assal completed his Ophthalmology training in the North East of England. He accomplished his glaucoma sub-specialist fellowship in Moorfields Eye Hospital-London where he developed a special interest in minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). He is currently working as a Consultant specialising in glaucoma and cataract surgery at Sunderland Eye Infirmary.
MBChB (Dundee), MSc (Engineering), MIET, FRCOphth (UK), MAcadMEd
Tafadzwa Young-Zvandasara MBChB (Dundee), MSc (Engineering), MIET, FRCOphth (UK), MAcadMEd is leading Consultant ophthalmologist specialising in Vitreoretinal and Cataract surgery in the North East of England. He specialises in Retinal surgery, Cataract surgery and Retinal conditions.
Costs
The price for the surgery is inclusive of post-op medication and all follow-up appointments, within 3 years of surgery. All patients that require YAG laser, following cataract surgery, or refractive lens exchange, at MY Eye Clinic, will have the procedure performed free of charge if it is within 3 years of surgery.
Cataract with standard monofocal lens
£3000
Cataract with toric monofocal lens
£3600
Cataract with Panoptix® multifocal lens
£4080
Cataract with Vivity® multifocal lens
£4080
Cataract with Panoptix® toric multifocal lens
£4250
Risks
Unavoidable, frequent or significant risks irrespective of how rare they may be:
Loss of vision
The risk of the eyesight being worse in the operated eye is about 1 in 100 and of a serious complication leading to severe loss of vision (such as infection) is about 1 in 1000.
Need for glasses
Most patients need new reading glasses and some patients need glasses all the time post-operatively. Occasionally there will be some imbalance between the two eyes after surgery, which may require glasses or further surgery.
Further symptoms
Some patients may require additional procedures, most commonly laser treatment for visual loss for thickening behind the implant (approx. 1 in 10 in 5 years).
Minor symptoms
Such as soreness, redness, glare and flashing lights may also occur.