Private Cataract Surgery Basingstoke

Cataracts often develop slowly, causing your vision to become progressively less clear and making everyday tasks such as reading, driving and watching television more difficult. If you are noticing these changes, a consultation with a consultant ophthalmic surgeon can establish whether private cataract surgery is the right treatment for you. Following a comprehensive eye assessment, your care will be tailored to your prescription, eye health, lifestyle and individual visual needs.

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

Cataracts generally develop over time, with symptoms becoming more noticeable as the natural lens becomes increasingly cloudy. Common signs include blurred or cloudy vision, glare from bright sunlight or vehicle headlights, colours appearing less vibrant and increasing difficulty with activities such as reading, driving or using digital devices.

Private cataract surgery involves removing the eye’s cataract-affected natural lens and replacing it with a high-quality artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The procedure is carried out by a consultant ophthalmic surgeon under local anaesthetic using advanced surgical techniques and is usually completed as a day-case procedure.

Although the operation itself normally takes 20–30 minutes per eye, you should allow extra time for your arrival, pre-operative assessment, surgery and post-operative monitoring. Before returning home, you’ll receive personalised recovery guidance together with details of your follow-up care and prescribed eye drops.

Choosing the most appropriate intraocular lens depends on your eyesight, eye health, lifestyle and personal visual goals. Sapphire Eye Care offers monofocal, multifocal, trifocal and Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) lenses, and your consultant ophthalmic surgeon will recommend the option that best suits your individual needs following your assessment.

The cost of private cataract surgery depends on your recommended treatment plan and the intraocular lens selected. Following a comprehensive consultation and diagnostic assessment, your consultant ophthalmic surgeon will explain your treatment options and provide a personalised quotation with a clear explanation of the associated costs.

Many patients become less dependent on glasses after cataract surgery, particularly when premium intraocular lenses are selected. The degree of spectacle independence achieved varies according to your prescription, eye health and the type of lens implanted during your procedure.

Both NHS and private cataract surgery improve vision by replacing the eye’s cloudy natural lens with a clear artificial intraocular lens. Choosing Sapphire Eye Care gives you rapid access to consultant-led treatment, continuity with the same ophthalmic surgeon throughout your care, access to advanced premium lens options and treatment within modern private facilities designed for patient comfort.

Yes. Patients visiting our Winchester clinic benefit from free on-site parking, making the journey from Basingstoke straightforward and allowing you to park conveniently close to the clinic.

Yes. As your vision may be temporarily affected immediately after your operation, you’ll need a friend, family member or companion to take you home. Before leaving the clinic, you’ll receive comprehensive aftercare information covering your medication, eye protection, follow-up appointments and recovery guidance.

Everyone recovers at a different pace, although clearer vision is often noticed within the first few days after cataract surgery. You should only drive when your eyesight meets the legal driving standard and your consultant ophthalmic surgeon confirms it is appropriate. Most day-to-day activities can then be resumed gradually in line with your personalised recovery programme.

Patients travelling from Basingstoke can usually secure a private cataract consultation promptly at our Winchester clinic. During your appointment, your consultant ophthalmic surgeon will carry out a detailed examination of your eyes, discuss the available intraocular lens options and develop a personalised treatment plan based on your prescription, lifestyle, eye health and long-term visual objectives.

• 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.