Private Cataract Surgery Farnham

Private cataract surgery can help when cataracts begin to affect the clarity of your vision and your ability to carry out everyday tasks. Typical symptoms include blurred or hazy eyesight, increased glare, difficulty reading and reduced confidence behind the wheel. During your consultation, your consultant ophthalmic surgeon will perform a thorough assessment and advise whether cataract surgery is the right treatment for your eyes and lifestyle.

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

Cataracts usually develop slowly, meaning changes in your eyesight can become more noticeable over time. Many people experience blurred or cloudy vision, increased sensitivity to bright lights, glare from headlights, colours appearing less vibrant and growing difficulty with activities such as reading, driving or recognising faces.

During private cataract surgery, the eye’s cloudy natural lens is carefully removed and replaced with a clear artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The procedure is performed by a consultant ophthalmic surgeon under local anaesthetic using advanced microsurgical techniques and is typically completed as a day-case procedure.

Although cataract surgery itself normally takes around 20–30 minutes per eye, you should allow additional time for your admission, preparation, recovery and discharge. Before returning home, your consultant will provide personalised aftercare advice and explain the next stages of your recovery.

The right intraocular lens (IOL) will depend on factors such as your prescription, eye health, daily activities and visual priorities. Sapphire Eye Care offers monofocal, multifocal, trifocal and Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) lenses. Following your assessment, your consultant ophthalmic surgeon will recommend the option most appropriate for your individual circumstances.

Private cataract surgery costs vary according to your treatment requirements and the intraocular lens selected. After your consultation and diagnostic investigations, your consultant ophthalmic surgeon will discuss the recommended treatment plan and provide a transparent quotation outlining all associated costs. Learn more about Private Cataract Surgery Costs.

Many patients reduce their reliance on glasses following cataract surgery, particularly when premium intraocular lenses are chosen. The extent of spectacle independence varies depending on your prescription, eye health and the lens implanted during your procedure.

Both NHS and private cataract surgery replace the eye’s cloudy natural lens with a clear artificial intraocular lens to restore vision. Choosing Sapphire Eye Care provides additional advantages, including prompt access to treatment, continuity with the same consultant ophthalmic surgeon, a broader selection of premium lens technologies and treatment within modern private facilities.

Yes. Complimentary on-site parking is available for patients visiting our Guildford clinic, making your appointment as convenient and straightforward as possible.

Yes. Because your eyesight may be temporarily affected immediately after surgery, you should arrange for a family member, friend or companion to take you home. Before you leave, you’ll receive comprehensive aftercare guidance covering your prescribed eye drops, eye protection, follow-up appointments and recovery.

Recovery following cataract surgery varies between patients, although many people notice improved vision within the first few days. You should only drive once your vision meets the legal driving standard and your consultant ophthalmic surgeon has confirmed that it is safe to do so. Most everyday activities can be resumed gradually in accordance with your personalised recovery advice.

Patients travelling from Farnham can usually arrange a consultation promptly at our Guildford clinic. During your appointment, your consultant ophthalmic surgeon will perform a detailed assessment of your eyes, explain the available intraocular lens options and recommend a personalised cataract treatment plan based on your prescription, lifestyle and long-term visual expectations.

• 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.