Forum Topic

Cataract surgery

Although I'm not aware of any diminishing of my vision, following a routine eye-test today, my optician is referring me for potential cataract surgery. NHS waiting-list is 6 to 12 months and could be at any one of several London hospitals. However the NHS also has an arrangement with a private eye clinic chain called Optegra. They have facilities all over the place including one in Hounslow which deals exclusively with cataracts. The waiting-time there is four to six WEEKS. It seems too good to be true, so does anyone have any personal experience of Optegra? Thanks.

Bruce Hammal ● 59d35 Comments

I had two cataracts done at Optegra in Colindale. They were excellent and am very satisfied with the results. The pre consultation was thorough. The system was efficient and was seen at the appointment time. Both operations went smoothly and I have recommended them to friends who were well satisfied. I believe they now have a branch in Hounslow. Waiting list was about 3 weeks.

Elizabeth Price ● 54d

Ashford Hospital, walk in clinic, also does cateracts, although I assume, you have to be referred. I have taken severals friends there and picked them up a afew hours later.

Elizabeth Whittington ● 54d

They do. I had my first cataract surgery at Western Eye Hospital. In talking with the consultant, she told me that I could have the same lenses I’d had for years as contact lenses - one eye for distance and the other for close work. I had the second operation at Charing Cross with the same consultant and my eyesight has never been better. Three cheers for the NHS!

Susan Jennifer Thackray ● 54d

I had a similar experience to Anne's, receiving laser treatment some years before cataract removal. I'd simply gone to Specsavers to get checked for a new pair of glasses, but owing to the pressure they detected behind my eyes, they arranged an emergency referral to Western Eye Hospital where I had a check-up followed by laser treatment. This all took place in the course of a single, somewhat eventful, day.

Colin Jordan ● 56d

I didn't have laser treatment for the reason you outline but did have laser treatment (years before cataracts) to create drainage channels around the iris due to high pressure in the eyes. The procedure is called an iridotomy. As far as I remember, your head is sort of clamped in place and your eye/s propped open. The sensation was a bit like a rubber band being gently twanged against the eye. It was fine. As with cataract removal, you either have to have a lift home or get a taxi which at Ashford, at least after the cataract operations, the staff will call for you. They also escort you down to the awaiting cab.

Anne England ● 56d

Thanks Philippa, I had no idea Moorfields had an outpost at Ealing hospital.

Bruce Hammal ● 57d

Clarity of vision was reduced pre-cataract because the natural lens has become cloudy and after a successful operation removing the cloudy lens and replacing with a plastic lens normal clarity of vision was restored. I was told that opticians at one time were being told not to refer their customers until the need for operations was far greater.  This of course reduced the backlog. Typically on the NHS you have to choose between good long distance or close-up sight.  It is worth thinking about this beforehand rather than having to make a sudden decision on the spot.  However I do think that most people choose to have good long sight and then wear reading glasses if and when needed - hence the dangling around the neck ones.  Your optician may also sell you some of the cheap off the shelf ones as spares. We went to Moorfields based at Ealing Hospital.

Philippa Bond ● 57d

People sharing their experiences of cataract surgery is proving a winner.With that in mind it is worth knowing that 1 in 10 patients may suffer from cloudy vision, the result of a weakening of a tiny membrane behind the natural lens of the effected eye months, maybe years post surgery.Should this occur laser treatment, at minimal risk, is offered to put things right.Are any participants willing to share their experiences from this laser treatment?

Denis I. Fox ● 57d

David, it's a sharpness of vision at approx 20 ft.

Janice Evans ● 57d

Just to clarify, I did say that I felt that I had 20/20 vision after cataract surgery not that I did have. Not being an optic. professional I wouldn't know exactly  what 20/20 was.

David Burke ● 57d

Yes Bruce my friend had the laser treatment and all ok now., however think Anne is correct some people will still need glasses.

Janice Evans ● 57d

This is all very interesting but if you didn't have perfect vision before developing cataracts then removing the cataracts won't give perfect vision either. It may be possible, as Janice says, to correct 'incorrect' vision through laser treatment but this is something different altogether and isn't possible in all cases. All I was commenting on is the number of people on this thread who say that their vision is 20/20 after having the cataract/s removed. Whatever, I was told even before the operation that I would always need to wear glasses which doesn't particularly bother me. The removal of the cataracts has of course prevented my eyesight from getting worse but not 'remedied' it.

Anne England ● 57d

Things might be different now, but I had two replacement ‘eye’ lenses put in by the NHS with a built in correction to give me good long sight. Then all I needed were some varilux glasses with a clear top half and a reading addition lower down, which I wear all the time to maintain my familiar appearance! I also needed slightly tinted lenses because everything was so much brighter after the op.

Peter Evans ● 57d

Actually from my Googling today I found references to needing follow-up laser treatment. This is from the Moorfields NHS website:"Can cataracts come back?Once the cloudy (cataractous) lens has been removed as part of cataract surgery, it doesn’t come back. However, the thin membrane behind the new lens implant (posterior capsule) may become opaque during the first few months or years after cataract surgery. This creates a filter-effect and can cause your vision to deteriorate. A simple laser treatment (YAG laser capsulotomy) can be performed in the outpatient clinic to clear this membrane and restore clear vision. Approximately 1 in 5 (20%) patients may benefit from YAG laser capsulotomy after cataract surgery."

Bruce Hammal ● 57d

O.K Anne, just that a friend had it done recently and improved his vision, suppose it depends on the persons sight as you said.

Janice Evans ● 57d

Thanks, but I really don't. 'All' cataract surgery does is remove the cataract which of course will lead to some improvement in one's eyesight. It won't give you perfect vision unless you formerly had perfect vision. That is, unless, you have a prescription lens inserted which is not done under the NHS.The removal of the cataract/s is primarily to stop your vision from getting worse as the cataract grows.

Anne England ● 57d

Thank you Janice, I will investigate this.

Bruce Hammal ● 58d

Hi Anne, you may need laser treatment to clear your vision which is sometimes necessary after cateract op.

Janice Evans ● 58d

Bruce, go to your G.P  and ask to go on the Book and Choose list, they can then send you options to choose from.

Janice Evans ● 58d

Thanks all for your replies. The thing is I'm in no rush to have this done - especially as so far I'm not  aware of my vision being compromised in any way!Optegra has good reports on Trust Pilot and Doctify (which I have never heard of) but I am dubious about the reliability of these sorts of review sites. I suspect that Optegra probably provide a limited standardised sort of service compared with the more comprehensive  facilities of a major hospital where treatments and lens options are likely to be greater. I'm quite happy wearing glasses as I have done so since I was eight years old and varifocals do away with all that reading glasses business. It could well turn out that after cataract surgery I won't need to wear glasses all the time but end up with a pair of "readers" permanently slung round my neck which to my mind is a worse option!The trouble with a general referral through the NHS is that you have no say in which hospital will be allocated your case - consequently no guarantee of being sent to the Western or Moorfields.Anyway any other observations are most welcome.Thanks again.

Bruce Hammal ● 58d

Crikey, reading these entries makes me think I'm unusual in still needing glasses after cataract surgery. Depends what else is 'wrong' with your eyes I suppose. For clarity - the NHS do not replace your lens with a prescription lens.

Anne England ● 58d

It's also true that, having worn 'face furniture' for many years, you still reach up to take off your non-existent glasses from time to time, especially when going to bed.

Colin Jordan ● 58d

The problem with suddenly not needing glasses after so many years was that friends and family said I ‘looked odd/funny’ without them!

Peter Evans ● 58d

I'll echo that, David.

Roger Talbot ● 58d

Another thumbs up for the NHS.Had mine done within reasonable time at the Moorfields branch at Ealing hospital.Painless procedure and walking out I felt I had 20 20 vision, nothing I've had since childhood.

David Burke ● 58d

That's great re your eyesight. It's important to remember though that for the main part the procedure is to stop the cataracts growing larger and one's eyesight getting worse. My eyesight is marginally better but I was told before the operations that I will always need to wear glasses. My prescription did change 'for the better' though.

Anne England ● 58d

I too would like to receive any feedback re cataract treatment at Optegra in Hounslow please. I can be reached on 07984 802205 or email joygriffiths@hotmail.co.uk if you would prefer not to post your comments on the forum. Thank you

Joy Griffiths ● 58d

Had mine done within about a month of each other at Western Eye Hospital just before lockdown. Half an hour of discomfort but no pain. They did a brilliant job and with near-perfect eyesight, I no longer wear glasses, having previously worn them for about 50 years.

Colin Jordan ● 58d

That was 2024.Regarding the time the operation takes, this can vary. Both of mine were more like 30 mins. Somebody in the room will hold your hand if you like. I didn't need this but thought it was a kind offer.

Anne England ● 58d

I had both my eyes done at Western Eye Hospital some years ago. It’s a remarkably quick operation and a bit like being at the dentist - wide awake with the noise of a laser rather than a drill. In my case they gave me new lenses with some built in visual corrections so I didn’t need to wear thick glasses anymore. Transformative!  If only they could have done it when I was 7 instead of 70!

Peter Evans ● 58d

My waiting time from referral by the optician to surgery at Western Eye Hospital was 4 months. I'm a very satisfied NHS customer.

Robert Fish ● 58d

Correction - the journo was Alex Brummer (City editor) and his article was in February 23. It's on pressreader.com

Paul Flood ● 59d

I don't have any experience of Optegra but I did have NHS cataract surgery at SpaMedica (Epsom)(referred by Boots optician) which sounds similar. They were fabulous - they also treated the medical correspondent from the Daily Mail at about the same time who wrote about his experience - I don't want to give them clicks but it's worth a read. No connection other than a very satisfied patient. Wherever you go it's not as scary as it sounds and it has been a massive improvement.

Paul Flood ● 59d

I have recently used the Optegra venue just off Harley Street for cataract surgery on one eye. I was very satisfied with the service I received and the follow-up after. The actual op only takes about ten minutes and the sensation is of water rushing over the eye; not at all painful. If I need the other eye done I will certainly use them again.

Paul Charlton ● 59d

I'm afraid I don't but, in as far as I remember, I was called for my first cataract surgery at Ashford Hospital within two to three months. I can't remember re the second but I think it was within the following six months.

Anne England ● 59d