Private Cataract Surgery Eastleigh

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 Eastleigh  could be a good option for you, book a Free Online Consultation with us.

Cataracts usually develop gradually, with vision becoming less clear over time. Early symptoms often include blurred or misty eyesight, increased sensitivity to bright light, glare from headlights, colours appearing less vivid and difficulty carrying out everyday tasks such as reading, driving or watching television.

During private cataract surgery, your consultant ophthalmic surgeon replaces the eye’s clouded natural lens with a clear artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Performed under local anaesthetic using modern microsurgical techniques, the procedure is typically completed as a day-case operation, allowing you to return home on the same day.

The surgical procedure generally takes 20–30 minutes per eye, but your overall visit will include your admission, preparation, surgery and a period of observation before discharge. Before leaving the clinic, you’ll receive detailed recovery advice, together with information about your eye drops and follow-up care.

The ideal intraocular lens depends on your prescription, eye health, lifestyle and the quality of vision you hope to achieve after surgery. Sapphire Eye Care provides monofocal, multifocal, trifocal and Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) lens options, with your consultant ophthalmic surgeon recommending the lens that best matches your individual requirements.

Private cataract surgery costs are based on your personalised treatment plan and the intraocular lens chosen. Once your eye examination and diagnostic tests have been completed, your consultant ophthalmic surgeon will explain your recommended treatment, outline the available lens options and provide a clear quotation detailing the associated costs.

Many patients enjoy greater freedom from glasses following cataract surgery, particularly when advanced premium intraocular lenses are selected. The degree of spectacle independence varies according to factors such as your prescription, eye health and the lens implant recommended for your procedure.

Both NHS and private cataract surgery improve eyesight by replacing the eye’s cloudy natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens. Choosing Sapphire Eye Care gives patients access to shorter waiting times, continuity with the same consultant ophthalmic surgeon, an extensive range of premium lens technologies and treatment within modern, purpose-designed private clinics.

Yes. Complimentary on-site parking is available for patients attending our Winchester clinic, making travel from Eastleigh simple and convenient with parking close to the clinic entrance.

Yes. Because your eyesight may be temporarily blurred immediately after your procedure, you should arrange for someone to accompany you home. Before you leave, you’ll receive full aftercare instructions covering your eye drops, protective eye shield, follow-up appointments and advice to support a smooth recovery.

Recovery following cataract surgery is different for every patient, although many people notice improved vision within a few days. You should only resume driving once your consultant ophthalmic surgeon confirms your eyesight meets the legal driving standard. Most normal activities can be resumed gradually in line with your personalised recovery plan.

Patients travelling from Eastleigh can usually arrange a private cataract consultation promptly at our Winchester clinic. During your appointment, your consultant ophthalmic surgeon will perform a detailed eye assessment, explain the different intraocular lens options available and create a personalised treatment plan based on your prescription, lifestyle, eye health 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.