Private Cataract Surgery Andover

Cataracts usually progress gradually, with symptoms becoming more noticeable as the eye’s natural lens becomes increasingly cloudy. If blurred vision, glare or difficulty with activities such as reading, driving or watching television are beginning to affect your daily life, a consultation with a consultant ophthalmic surgeon can determine whether private cataract surgery is the most appropriate treatment. Following a detailed examination, your treatment plan will be personalised to your prescription, eye health, lifestyle and long-term visual goals.

To see if private cataract surgery in Andover could be a good option for you, book a Free Online Consultation with us.

Cataracts usually form gradually, so changes in your vision may be subtle at first. Many people notice hazy or blurred eyesight, increased glare from bright lights, colours appearing duller than before and greater difficulty with tasks such as reading, driving, watching television or recognising faces.

Private cataract surgery replaces the eye’s clouded natural lens with a clear artificial intraocular lens (IOL), restoring the quality of your vision. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic by a consultant ophthalmic surgeon using modern microsurgical techniques and, in most cases, patients are able to return home later the same day.

Although cataract surgery itself is normally completed within 20 to 30 minutes per eye, your visit will also include your admission, pre-operative preparations and a short recovery period before discharge. You’ll leave the clinic with detailed aftercare instructions, prescribed eye drops and information about your follow-up appointments.

Choosing the right intraocular lens involves considering your prescription, the health of your eyes, your everyday activities and the type of vision you would like to achieve after surgery. Sapphire Eye Care offers monofocal, multifocal, trifocal and Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) lenses, with your consultant ophthalmic surgeon recommending the option that best matches your individual requirements.

The overall cost of private cataract surgery depends on your individual treatment plan and the intraocular lens recommended for your procedure. Following a comprehensive consultation and diagnostic testing, your consultant ophthalmic surgeon will explain your options in detail and provide a clear quotation outlining all associated fees.

Many patients find they need glasses less often following cataract surgery, particularly when premium intraocular lenses are suitable. Your results will depend on factors such as your prescription, eye health and the type of lens chosen as part of your personalised treatment.

Both NHS and private cataract surgery restore vision by replacing the eye’s cloudy natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens. Patients travelling from Andover often choose Sapphire Eye Care’s Winchester clinic for consultant-led care, shorter waiting times, continuity with the same ophthalmic surgeon throughout treatment and access to an extensive range of advanced premium lens technologies.

Yes. Our Winchester clinic offers complimentary on-site parking, allowing patients travelling from Andover to park close to the entrance and begin their appointment without the inconvenience of searching for public parking.

Yes. As your vision may be temporarily blurred after your procedure, you should arrange for a friend, family member or companion to drive you home. Before you leave the clinic, we’ll explain your recovery plan, including how to use your eye drops, wear your protective eye shield and attend your scheduled follow-up appointments.

Recovery following cataract surgery varies from person to person, although many patients notice clearer vision within a few days. You should only return to driving after your consultant ophthalmic surgeon has confirmed that your eyesight meets the legal driving standard. Most normal daily activities can then be resumed gradually, following the personalised advice provided during your aftercare.

Patients travelling from Andover can usually arrange a private cataract consultation promptly at our Winchester clinic. During your visit, your consultant ophthalmic surgeon will perform a detailed assessment of your eyes, discuss the most suitable intraocular lens options and create a personalised treatment plan based on your prescription, eye health, lifestyle and long-term visual goals.

• After surgery you may experience some pain. Simple paracetamol is usually enough to control this.
• The eyelids will be a bruised and swollen. Bruising will take approximately 2 weeks to settle. Swelling is greatly reduced after 2 weeks but may not completely resolve for several months.
• Some people report not feeling ‘back to normal’ for up to 6 months after surgery.
• Initially it may feel difficult for you to close your eyelids and this will be managed with eye ointments.
• It is important not to have surgery too close to important events, in case you have not fully recovered in time.

• Dermatochalasis is excess of eyelid skin. It can present as an extra fold of skin, which may overhang the upper eyelashes.
• It is caused by the skin loosing its elasticity, usually due to age but is also seen in some medical conditions such as Thyroid related.
• It may be associated with prolapse of orbital fat causing the eyelid to bulge (eye bags). This may occur in the upper or lower eyelid.
• The lower lid may be lax or loose, which may cause it to sag or hang lower than in youth.

• A blepharoplasty is an operation to rejuvenate the eyelids and in some cases can improve vision where excess skin is obscuring it.
• It usually involves removal of excess eyelid skin.
• Depending on an individual, muscle or fat underlying the skin may also be removed, repositioned or tightened surgically.
• The procedure can be carried out in the upper or lower eyelid

Upper eyelid blepharoplasty:

• At the beginning of the operation the amount of skin to be removed will be carefully assessed. Marks will be drawn on the eyelid with a sterile marking pen to assist the surgeon during the procedure.
• The incision is based in the skin crease of the upper lid, which helps to minimise any sign that you have had upper lid surgery.
• After this, local anaesthetic will be injected under the skin of the eyelid and excess skin is then removed.
• Depending on your particular needs, the muscle beneath the skin may be preserved or partially removed.
• If there is fat prolapse, this may be treated with partial fat removal or repositioning.
• Sutures are placed to reform the natural skin crease in the eyelid.
• The skin edges are sutured together with either a continuous suture that is removed one week later or absorbable sutures that will naturally fall out after 2-3 weeks.
• It may be performed alone or in conjunction with other procedures such as lower eyelid surgery, ptosis surgery or brow surgery.

Lower eyelid blepharoplasty:

• There are several elements to lower lid blepharoplasty: skin, muscle, fat and eyelid laxity. The procedure will be tailored to your needs.
• Fat prolapse in the lower eyelid gives the appearance of ‘eye bags’. This fat can be excised or repositioned over the orbital rim to create a smoother transition from the eyelid into the cheek.
• Surgery on the prolapsed fat may be done without a skin incision from the inside of the eyelid – transconjunctival or via a skin incision just beneath the eyelashes – transcutaneous.
• The lower eyelid usually needs to be tightened at the time of surgery. Even a small amount of lid laxity can lead to postoperative lower lid retraction or ectropion if not addressed at the time of surgery.
• The orbicularis muscle, which lies directly beneath the skin is often tightened by placing sutures from it to the bony rim of the orbit – ‘orbicularis suspension’.
• Lower eyelid skin is excised in much smaller amounts than in the upper lid. This is to avoid the unwanted side effect following surgery of eyelid retraction.

• Bleeding and bruising.
• Over or under correction of excess skin with the potential for residual bulging after surgery. Under correction does not usually necessitate revision surgery and is relatively common and preferable to over correction. Over correction results from removal of too much eyelid skin and/or fat with a resultant cosmetic sunken appearance to the eyelids after blepharoplasty).
• Asymmetry of the shape of the eyelids.
• Dry eye requiring the use of artificial teardrops temporarily blurred vision, which is usually temporary.
• Weak or limited eyelid blink (occurs due to excessive scarring)
• Weak or limited eyelid closure (especially at night)
• Should the cornea break down, partial closure of the eye with sutures may be necessary to protect it. Further corrective surgery may be necessary.
• Recurrence of excess skin/bag.
• The need for further eyelid surgery in the future.
• Cysts or whiteheads along suture sites.
• Temporary patches of numbness of the eyelids.
• Orbital haemorrhage with a potential for permanent visual loss
• Infection
• Scarring, or persistent eyelid swelling, and other unusual skin changes, especially in patients with thin sensitive skin, are extremely rare complications.

Crow’s feet are not generally improved by blepharoplasty. Smile lines are not improved by blepharoplasty and may change after surgery. In addition to the risks specific to the individual procedure, there are also general risks, such as blood loss, infection, cardiac arrest, airway problems and blood clots, which are associated with any surgical procedure. Local anaesthetic may cause bruising or possible allergic responses. If your operation is to be carried out under general anaesthetic, the anaesthetist will discuss this with you.

• Both eyelid dermatochalasis and eyebrow ptosis may reduce the visual field due to the hooding of skin over the eyelid; surgery can therefore improve visual function and relieve some headaches.
• It also will improve the appearance of the eyes with a fresher more awake look.

If you choose not to have this surgery, the appearance and symptoms caused by the excess skin or fat is not likely to improve and may worsen over time, although this will not have any permanent detrimental effect on your vision or general health.