Sussex Premier Health, Hastings: Important update for patients with upcoming appointments
Sussex Premier Health, Hastings: Important update for patients with upcoming appointments
Improve blurred vision caused by cloudy areas on the lens of the eye.
Sussex Premier Health use trusted and clinically proven techniques to remove cataracts and improve your eyesight, so you can get back to everyday activities.
A few hours
Local
1 hour
Yes
Yes
Cataract surgery involves replacing a cloudy lens in your eye with a clear artificial lens to improve vision. Cataracts occur when the lens in your eye becomes cloudy causing blurred vision which can impact your everyday activities such as:
Cataract surgery is most often carried out on people over 65, although some medical conditions can cause cataracts earlier. It’s a very successful treatment to help improve your vision. Some people still need to wear glasses after cataract surgery.
It’s a very successful treatment to help improve your vision. The benefits of cataract surgery include:
Cataract removal surgery can also benefit you by allowing you to resume your everyday activities and improve your quality of life. Most people still need to wear glasses after cataract surgery to carry out some tasks at least.
You’ll meet your consultant in one of our private consultation rooms, they’ll ask about any previous eye surgery and your general health will also be assessed at this appointment.
Your consultant will examine your eye and they may carry out tests such as:
Any diagnostic tests, such as scans or blood tests may incur an additional cost.
Most cataract surgery is performed under local anaesthetic, which means you can eat or drink as normal before and after the operation. If you’re having general anaesthetic, you’ll be asked not to eat or drink anything for around two hours before the operation.
Your consultant will explain how cataract surgery works and the options available to you, what you can expect afterwards, any risks and whether you should stop taking or adjust any medications you’re taking. This is also a good opportunity for you to ask any questions.
On the day of your procedure, our ward staff will show you to your own private room. You’ll only be with us for a couple of hours so you won’t need to bring much. However, you may need:
Here’s what will happen after you arrive for your cataract surgery:
After your cataract surgery, you’ll be taken to a recovery room to relax until your surgeon says you’re ready to go home. This is usually a few hours after cataract surgery.
After you’ve recovered from surgery, you won’t be able to feel the new IOL as it becomes a permanent part of your eye, requiring no additional care. A range of IOLs are available to suit different lifestyle and vision needs.
You may notice the difference in your eyesight almost immediately – for instance, colours might appear brighter.
However, for many people, vision is blurry for 10 to 14 days after cataract surgery as your eye recovers and adjusts to the new lens. You should be able to stop wearing your eye patch or shield at night a week or two after the operation. In four to six weeks, you should be fully back to normal.
If you have an existing eye condition, side effects may be more likely.
Short-term side effects
After cataract surgery, it’s normal to experience blurred or double vision, grittiness, redness or watering. This should all settle after a few days.
Using glasses
You may still need glasses after cataract surgery, particularly if you needed them before. Your consultant will tell you when you can have your eyes tested – usually after about 6 to 12 weeks.
What you should/shouldn’t do after cataract surgery
You can perform most daily tasks, such as bathing, showering, reading, watching TV or using a computer. However, avoid swimming, strenuous exercise or housework and don’t drive until your ophthalmologist says so.
Ensure that you use your eye drops as instructed and wear your eye patch at night and while washing your hair for at least a week. Don’t allow soap or shampoo into your eye and you should also avoid eye make-up for at least four weeks.
Your surgery will be performed by your consultant surgeon.
Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are designed to last for many years so you shouldn’t need to replace them. A cataract operation should only need to be done once in each eye.
Your ophthalmologist will advise you when you can drive again, so always check with them first. You’re fit to drive when your vision meets DVLA standards, which may mean waiting for new glasses. You can get your eyes tested at six to 12 weeks after your operation. You’ll also need to wait until you’ve fully recovered from the anaesthetic and ensure you’re not taking any pain medication that could make it unsafe for you to drive.
In four to six weeks, you should be fully back to normal with no side effects.
Your vision may be blurry for seven to 10 days after surgery.
Generally, your vision shouldn’t deteriorate after cataract surgery (unless you develop another condition, such as glaucoma). Your close vision will continue to decline naturally with age. However, some people experience posterior capsule opacification (PCO) which causes cloudiness or blurred vision. This can be treated with laser surgery to make your vision clear again and doesn’t usually cause long-term problems.
You should avoid swimming, strenuous exercise or housework and don’t drive until your ophthalmologist says so. Don’t allow soap or shampoo to into your eye and you should also avoid eye make-up for at least four weeks.
Speak to a member of our team
01424 757400 
info@sussexpremierhealth.com 
01424 757400