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A cataract is a clouding of the naturally clear lens located behind the pupil and iris. Often, patients will complain of blurred vision and if left untreated the crystalline lens will become cloudy and turn opaque. Mostly, both eyes will be affected by cataracts simultaneously, but rarely does the disease develop rapidly in one eye rather than the other.
Our summary of cataract statistics indicate that 95% of cataracts are age related and they tend to develop gradually over time. They can normally be cured with a short operation that removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial plastic lens. Unless this surgery is carried out the patient can go blind which, unfortunately, happens all too often in developing countries that don’t have the resources to carry out the number of operations necessary.
Cataract surgery is performed by an approved ophthalmologist on an outpatient basis, meaning you aren’t required to stay in hospital after the surgery. It’s a common surgery and is generally a safe procedure; if done correctly.
If you’re having problems seeing objects properly due to cataracts your doctor may recommend cataract surgery. Also, if a cataract is interfering with the treatment of another vision defect such as myopia or hyperopia, cataract surgery may be recommended before the underlying defect is corrected. For instance, cataracts make it impossible for doctors to examine the inner part of the eye for conditions such as macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy, thus it becomes necessary to recommend cataract surgery.
Clinic | Consultation | Cataract Monofocal Lens (Per Eye) | Cataract Multifocal Lens (Per Eye) |
---|---|---|---|
Optimax | Free | From £2,495 | From £3,245 |
Ultralase | Free | £2,495 | £3,245 |
Optegra | Free | £1,995 | £3,495 |
Optical Express | Free | £1,995 | £3,195 |
Center For Sight | £350 | £3,150 – £3,995 | £4,100 – £4,500 |
* Higher price charged for Toric lenses.
You can see more information on private cataract surgery costs here.
As we get older the the protein in our lens, which is normally perfectly arranged to let light pass through and keep the lens clear, may start to clump together and start to cloud in a small area of the lens. This clouded area may grow over time making vision more blurred.
Age, diabetes mellitus, corticosteroid use, female gender, socio-economic status, ethnicity, smoking and alcohol are all cataract risk factors.
Cataracts can be treated by removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial plastic lens (an intraocular implant). Cataract surgery can be carried out in three ways, but each technique is dependent on the severity of the trauma that necessitated the surgery. The techniques are:
Phacoemulsification: Involves breaking the cataract into small pieces using ultrasound before the fragments are sucked out through a thin tube. The same incision is used to insert a replacement lens and functions like the extracted natural lens.
Extracapsular Cataract Surgery: This technique is adopted when the cataracts are at an advanced level and cannot be broken down using phacoemulsification. It is performed under local anesthesia and the doctor may recommend oral sedatives to relax the patient. The surgeon makes a small incision in the eye to remove the defective lens.
Intracapsular Cataract Surgery: This type of surgery involves creating a relatively large incision compared to the other techniques. This technique is mostly used for people with extreme trauma. The larger incision makes it possible for the surgeon to remove the lens fully and in its place put an artificial intraocular lens.
Although cataract surgery is considered a low-risk procedure, some complications have been reported including Posterior Capsular Opacification (PCO) resulting from additional cell growth in the lens and Cystoid Macular Oedema resulting from fluid build-ups between the layers of the retina. Other common complications include retinal detachment, inflammation, corneal damage and eye infections.
At first, you might not notice that there’s anything wrong with your eyesight, which is why you may not be aware you have a cataract until it’s identified by an optician in your annual eye examination. However, as the cataract develops, your vision gets worse, and it’s when your vision becomes severely affected that an operation is recommended. But you don’t always have to wait until that point to have cataract surgery, especially if you’re seeking private treatment for it or are heavily reliant on your eyes for your job (e.g. driving).
There is currently a wide variation in access to cataract surgery across England due to differences in health commissioning policies. A recent study found 9 in every 10 cataract surgery commissioning policies contained criteria that followed “neither national guidance nor scientific evidence.”
Half of commissioners were found to have restricted access to cataract surgery by using clinical thresholds and 1 in 3 made no allowance for second eye surgery. Accessing quality cataract surgery on the NHS really a postcode lottery at the moment.
Additionally, there is almost a threefold variation in the number of people having cataract surgery across England, with rates ranging from 285 to 804 per 100,000 population which cannot be fully explained by variations in known risk factors for the development of cataract.
Once your cataracts start to severely hamper your day-to-day activities, that’s when you’ll be offered the procedure on the NHS. For example, if you’re struggling to drive, read or can no longer take care of someone you look after for, your doctor/ophthalmologist will recommend you for treatment.
Previously, patients had to wait until they could barely see before they were entitled to cataract surgery, but there are no guidelines in place now, which means the removal of your cataracts can take place as soon as your vision is affected. It’s also worth noting that, some clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) within the NHS will have different guidelines in place as to who’s eligible for cataract surgery, so it’s worth checking this out before you decide to go private or pursue surgery on the NHS.
Additionally, if you’re suffering from another eye condition (e.g. diabetic retinopathy) you may be advised to undergo cataract surgery. This is because these are often less treatable when you have cataracts too.
Prior to your surgery, the surgeon will measure your eyes and vision a number of times to ensure the artificial lens they’re placing within them is right for you. They will also discuss your medical history, existing medical conditions and other vision problems to make sure there aren’t too many risks involved in the procedure.
The operation itself is done under local anaesthetic and normally takes around 45 minutes (if you have cataracts in both eyes these will be done one at a time, 6 to 12 weeks apart). This means you’ll be able to go home after your operation, but you will need to arrange transport as you won’t be able to drive straight after.
Within a few hours of the procedure you should be discharged from hospital, and you will need to get plenty of rest for the next two or three days. During this time, and for a month after your surgery, it’s important you use the antibiotic drops that have been prescribed by your surgeon (to keep your eyes moist and prevent any infections/inflammation). You may also need to wear a dressing for 24 hours and may be advised to wear a patch at night to prevent you from rubbing your eye(s) in your sleep.
Some patients will experience mild discomfort post-surgery but this shouldn’t last long and over-the-counter painkillers should help ease this. After a few days, you’ll also be able to resume your normal daily activities, while being careful not to get anything in your eye (e.g. water or soap) for several weeks. Apart from that, you should notice a great improvement in your vision almost straight after your surgery.
There are some risks involved in cataract surgery, just like there is with any other type of operation. However, the chance of you suffering from one of these risks is very small.
This is still a much-debated topic but there are some studies which suggest certain nutritional supplements and nutrients could prevent the onset of cataracts. These include vitamin E, vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids and the carotenoids zeaxanthin and lutein.
Another study also found that smoking can increase a person’s risk of developing age-related cataracts.
Furthermore, attending regular eye examinations can help. Although it won’t prevent cataracts from developing it does help your optician spot them at an early stage so you can seek treatment before they have a severe impact on your vision.
After cataract surgery, the majority of people will need to wear glasses for short- or long-distance use, even if they didn’t rely on them prior to the operation. 70% of people need glasses when they are fitted with a multifocal lens and 95% with a monofocal lens. This is due to an artificial lens implant being unable to focus on various distances, unlike your natural lens. However, this natural ability is lost with age anyway so most cataract patients will need glasses to read prior to undergoing the procedure.
As they’re constructed from plastic or silicone, artificial lenses are designed to last a lifetime, so you shouldn’t require a repeat operation afterwards unless you suffer from PCO.
A very small number of people who undergo cataract surgery will develop PCO (detailed above), whereby a membrane grows over the lens capsule, clouding your vision. This is often described as a secondary cataract or ‘after-cataract’ and can arise a few months or even years after the initial procedure.
Understanding Cataracts Publisher: Royal College of Ophthalmologists & Royal National Institute of Blind People | |
Understanding Cataracts: Specific Questions Relating to Cataracts Publisher: The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the Royal National Institute of Blind People | |
Cataracts & Driving Publisher: UK Government | |
Treating cataracts by implanting multifocal lenses Publisher: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) | |
Alarm Over Reports of Growing Number of Patients Denied Cataract Surgery Publisher: The Royal College of Ophthalmologists & The Royal National Institute of Blind People |
This report is a snapshot of cataract surgery quality from 56 NHS funded centres in England and Wales produced by the RCOphth.
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