Ophthalmology

You can have a light meal before your appointment. You will need someone to drive you home. If you work, please allow at least a week off work. You may require more time off if you work in a very dusty environment. Please read the following information as well as the content of the consent form.

The procedure involves removing the cloudy lens through a very small key hole incision in front of the eye and replacing it with an artificial lens implant. The operation is most commonly performed under local anaesthetic, using either drops or injection. You will not be able to see what is happening. Sometimes local anaesthetic may not be suitable, in which case you will be offered referral for a general anaesthetic. Usually no stitches are needed.

After the operation
You will be taken to our recovery room, where you can relax and enjoy a cup of tea with some biscuits. The nurse will go through some post-operative advice and give you a discharge letter together with some eye drops. You can leave when you feel ready. We will send you an appointment for a follow up in 2-4 weeks.

It is common to have some redness and swelling of the eyelids. The eye will also feel scratchy or gritty. Blurred vision is normal on the first day, which should improve over several hours. You can resume your normal activities like reading straightaway.

Glasses may still be required afterwards, especially for reading. You can see your optician 6 weeks after your operation. Driving depends on your individual vision. Please ask the nurse for further information.

Please avoid heavy lifting, make up, flying and getting soap and water in the eye for 2 weeks. No swimming for 6 weeks please.

Following Your Cataract Surgery

When you get home today
It is common to have some redness and swelling of the eyelids. The eye may feel scratchy or gritty. Blurred vision is normal for the first few days, You can resume your normal activities like reading straightaway. Avoid heavy lifting, excessive bending, stooping, eye make-up and flying for 2 weeks.

Follow up Appointment
We will send you a follow up appointment in 2-4 weeks if you have been booked for a second cataract operation with us.

If you have had a second cataract operation or just had a single cataract operation, you will be contacted by your chosen accredited optometrist for your review appointment.

Should I wear my Glasses?
Glasses may still be required afterwards, especially for reading. You can see your optician 6 weeks after your operation.

Feel free to experiment with your glasses, this will not harm your vision. Try glasses on or off, for different distances. Your optician may be able to remove a lens from your glasses so that both eyes can be used.

Can I go back to work?
Most people will take the first week off work/study. You can resume normal activities as long as you are careful.

Will I have any pain?
You should have no severe pain but may experience some grittiness.

Will I be given any medication?
You will be given some eye drops: TOBRADEX Please instil one drop four times a day for 3 weeks. Your shield is to be worn until the next morning when you can remove it and throw it away.

Can I shower/bath?
Avoid getting soap and water in the eye for 2 weeks. Use baby shampoo to wash your hair. Do not rub your eye(s).

No swimming for 6 weeks please.

When can I drive?
Driving depends on your individual vision. You may drive after 2-3 days if you can read a car number plate from 21 metres away in good light.

You cannot drive if you have double vision. Please be aware that your judgment of distance may change following cataract surgery, and it may take a little time to get used to your new eyesight.

Glaucoma
If you have glaucoma, continue your glaucoma drops as usual but please use a new bottle. Leave an interval of 5 minutes between eye drops.

Dry and gritty eyes
If you experience dry and gritty eyes, use some lubricant eye drops from your optician or chemist. Usually 4 or 5 times a day is enough.

What do I need to look out for?
You should seek medical advice if you experience the following:

• Pain in the eye that is not relieved by painkillers

• A large amount of discharge of pus

• Increasing redness in the eye

• Progressive deterioration in your vision

• Floaters or flashing lights

If you think you have any concerns please seek advice by calling us at Probus Surgical Centre on 01726 885104. Out of hours or at weekend’s advice can be obtained by calling your own GPs surgery where you will be transferred.

The benefit is to improve your clarity of vision and colour vision. As with all surgical procedures, there is a small element of risks associated with your operation. Some of these can be serious. The success of the operation also depends on whether you have any pre-existing eye conditions. The potential complications during the operation are:

• Severe bleeding inside the eye during operation, which may cause loss of vision

• A tear in the capsule with disturbance of the gel inside the eye that sometimes leads to reduced vision

• Loss of all or part of the cataract into the back of the eye, which requires another operation often requiring a general anaesthetic

• Allergic reaction to local anaesthetics.

The potential complications after the operation are:

• Bruising of the eye or eyelids

• High pressure inside the eye

• Clouding of the cornea

• Swelling of the retina (macular oedema)

• Detached retina that can lead to loss of vision

• Infection (endopthalmitis)- which can lead to loss of sight or, on very rare occasions, loss of the eye

The risk of total loss of vision is about 1 to 3 in 1000.