FAQ’s

Question      How early should I seek help?
Answer        You should seek help when the cataract causes you trouble.

Question      Is there a legal sight requirement for drivers?
Answer        Yes.  You should be able to read a number plate (with glasses, if worn) in good daylight at 20.5 metres (67 ft.) which equates to a visual acuity of between 6/9 and 6/12 (20/30 and 20/40).

Question      Should I wait until my cataract matures before undergoing surgery?
Answer        There is no 'right' time to have a cataract removed.  It is based on the patient's judgement as to whether the condition is causing problems in everyday life and this is then weighed up against any medical conditions.  
In America, some patients decide to have them removed at a very early stage, possibly as a cosmetic procedure and this has been dubbed the 'California Cataract'!

Question      What if my other eye has poor vision or no vision at all?
Answer        Cataract surgery carries a combined risk of 2-3% of problems occuring during the operative and post-operative period, which, in the world of gambling, would be seen as low risk if the fellow eye has good sight. The risk becomes far greater if the fellow eye has poor sight or no sight. Here, surgery is referred to as One or Only Eye Surgery and it is very important that the patient is in no doubt whatsoever about the vision in the fellow eye and understands that this could be his only vision should something untoward happen. I always get my patient to cover his or her 'good' eye and make sure they understand that this would be their situation should something unforeseen happen during surgery. However uncomfortable it might be to think about the possibility of failure, these things must be discussed.

Question      How long does the operation take?
Answer        On average, an operation takes 5-15 mins. but can take up to 45 minutes.

Question      Will I have to wear an eye patch after the operation?
Answer        You will need to wear a transparent eye shield until the following morning to protect your eye and you should continue to wear it at night for at least a week. Your glasses can be worn in the day for protection (blocking out or removing the spectacle lens of the eye that has undergone surgery if necessary).

Question      Tell me about post-operative care?
Answer        It is largely a matter of common sense. Be careful bending, don't carry heavy weights and avoid all contact and physical sports (bungee jumping!). We recommend that you don’t swim for at least 2-4 weeks.  

Question      How soon will I be able to drive again?
Answer        As soon as you feel you are 100% safe to drive, can read a number plate at the legal distance and have informed the DVLA and your insurance company of these changed circumstances.
                                                
Question      Will I still need to wear spectacles after the operation?
Answer        Yes and No. At the time of surgery there is a choice of artificial lens which in turn will affect the need for glasses after the operation.  As a very general rule, patients may adapt better to a situation where no glasses are needed for distance and a pair is needed for reading and close work but situations will vary.  As we only operate on one eye at a time you may still need to wear the appropriate lens for the other eye.

Question      What if I want to continue to wear my spectacles?

Answer        There are a two main choice here.  You can continue to wear your current glasses as this will not adversely affect the operated eye although it may cause eye strain.  Alternatively you could replace the lens on the operated side to a plain, non-prescription lens or remove or occlude the lens on the operated side.

Question      What is eye strain?
Answer        Eye strain is a common eye complaint. It is not a serious condition and can be caused by a number of things like wearing incorrect prescription lenses. It can be relived by allowing the eye to rest.