Cataract Assessment and Surgery with your Ophthalmologist

Cataract Surgery with your Private Ophthalmologist
The Care You Deserve in Central London
Cataract Surgery – Dr.Ahmed Aziz has performed more than 1500 cataract operations, and as an ophthalmologist, I have focused on treating patients to provide this useful service. I offer this service, along with other more specialized services, to anyone looking for a reliable private cataract surgeon. London is a wonderful city with first-class medical facilities. I am Ahmed Aziz, and I am committed to developing lasting bonds of trust and professional honesty with each of my patients. It is convenient that you undergo an eye examination at my London clinic..
CATARACT SURGERY
DAY CASE PROCEDURE
Treatment allows you to go home the same day
LOCAL ANAESTHETIC
Give faster recovery. You can be put to sleep or given a sedative if you are very nervous.
SHORT SURGICAL TIME
Most cases take less than half an hour although a small percentage take longer.

Cataract - All you need to know about Cataract Surgery
What is a cataract?
It may sound scary but it is a common condition associated with aging. Cataracts are treated with surgery and are one of the most commonly performed operations and can help treat blurry vision and also reduce your dependence on wearing glasses.
It is one of the most effective and safe operations performed by ophthalmologists today thanks to modern technology and proper training of Surgeons. It is usually covered by your health insurance company but please check your policy to be sure.

What can I expect after the surgery?
Before you have the procedure, you will be notified of what to expect before, during, and after your procedure to help you make an informed decision about whether or not to proceed.
Then the surgeon completes the removal of the Cataract and implantation of the transparent artificial lens by closing the incision in your eye (here a stitch may be needed but most commonly it can be closed without any stitches), and a protective shield is placed over the eye that will keep you safe in the early stages of your recovery. Since cataracts or a normal lens can be yellow and Brown in color, patients often report seeing more bright and blue colors after the procedure.
If you have any questions or concerns about the procedure, be sure to discuss them with your cataract surgeon before the operation.
How painful is the surgery?
Cataract extraction is usually performed by ophthalmologists like Mr. Ahmed Aziz in prestigious London hospitals with small incisions and there should be no pain. He is on an outpatient basis and does not require an overnight stay in the hospital.
It is performed in the operating room under sterile conditions to minimize the risk of infection. Most patients undergo the operation under local anesthesia and eye drops are usually anesthetized but it can be performed under general anesthesia if necessary.
Which lens is best for cataract surgery?
Today there are many types of intraocular lenses to choose from for cataracts but not all lenses are suitable for all people. Choosing the right intraocular lens depends on your specific needs and the results of an eye examination. In addition to intraocular lenses that correct myopia and hyperopia, there are lenses that also correct astigmatism which are known as intraocular toric lenses.
During the procedure, the cloudy natural lens inside your eye is removed during the surgical procedure. After they are removed, an artificial lens (called an intraocular lens, or short for IOL) is placed to restore clear vision.
Modern surgery is an outpatient procedure that involves the use of a high-frequency ultrasound probe to break up the blurry lens into smaller fragments, which are gently removed from the eye and leave the lens capsule intact. You will then get a clearer view through the new lens. It is for this reason that you cannot maintain cataracts after the procedure as small particles are expelled from the eye with fluid.
Can I watch TV after the surgery?
You can watch TV and read right after that but you may find it blurry. You will find that vision improves over the next week. After the eye has healed you find that you still need to wear glasses especially when it comes to reading.
How many days rest is needed after the surgery?
Discomfort should begin to settle in a few days. Most people are advised to take a week off, although some people especially those who are self-employed may only take a few days off. Full recovery varies from person to person but may take a few weeks up to 4 or 6 weeks in most cases.
Does cataract surgery give you 20 20 vision?
Before the operation, the ophthalmologist will conduct a thorough eye examination to check the overall health, assess whether there are reasons that prevent you from moving forward and identify any risk factors that you may have. They will assess whether there is any evidence of age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy which may also affect vision.
Before surgery, a refractive test or a basic eye test will be performed to accurately determine how much myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism you have. Your eyes will be measured again to determine the curvature of the cornea (the front layer of your eye) and the length of your eye.
These measurements are important in helping your cataract surgeon choose the best intraocular lens for you. Measurements are taken and equalized to produce a recommended lens power that provides the best estimate of eye refraction after surgery. If there are no other vision problems, cataract extraction will probably lead to 20/20 vision, but this is not guaranteed.
What are the disadvantages of the surgery?
You may have some mild refractive errors or astigmatism after surgery which is common and can be corrected with glasses. It is rare that double vision occurs after the operation.
This procedure using high-frequency ultrasound, called Phacoemulsification or “phaco”, can be performed with smaller incisions than previous surgical techniques to remove cataracts, resulting in faster recovery and a reduced risk of complications, such as retinal detachment and vision loss. The return to daily activities is now faster than in the past with a larger incision surgery.
For some people, they feel that glasses are part of their identity and they want to protect their eyes. They can still wear glasses after the operation even if they have good vision.
If you choose to wear glasses after the procedure, it is highly recommended to use lenses with anti-reflective coating and photochromic lenses for the best vision, comfort and appearance. Ask the ophthalmologist for details and explain these lenses.
The risks from the operation include a condition called posterior capsule opacity which can lead to blurred vision but can be treated relatively straight up. Other risks include ptosis (drooping eyelid), dislocation of the intraocular lens, sensitivity to light, inflammation of the eye, photophobia (flashes of light), macular edema (swelling of the central retina), ocular hypertension which is high intraocular pressure.
Will I need reading glasses after surgery?
Having an operation will not mean that you no longer need to visit your ophthalmologist. You will still need to visit an ophthalmologist routinely to ensure that eye health is maintained and to make sure that any other problems are detected early.
Unless you choose multifocal intraocular lenses, it is likely that you will need prescription reading glasses after the procedure to see near objects and read clearly. Even people who choose these multifocal intraocular lenses often have better vision with reading glasses for some close-up tasks and see a very small print.
Should you wear your old glasses after the surgery?
It’s okay to wear your old glasses afterwards. However, you will most likely find that your prescription has changed and your old glasses will not be as effective as they used to be. Hopefully, you will have a clearer vision at a distance that will not require glasses if you have a new lens aimed at the distance. You may need glasses for close-up work.
Which lens is better monofocal or multifocal?
A monofocal lens implant is commonly used that still requires the glasses to have a full range of vision. Often, there is a need to use reading glasses only part-time after the introduction of intraocular monofocal lenses. If prescription glasses are needed, the ophthalmologist will usually prescribe new glasses for you after about two months.
If you like the idea of being less dependent on glasses after the distance vision and reading procedure, one way to correct presbyopia (inability to focus on distance and proximity to what happens in middle age) and reduce your need for reading glasses is for a cataract surgeon to adjust the power of one of the monofocal intraocular lenses (assuming the procedure is performed in both eyes) to give you monovision correction, similar to monovision with contact lenses. This is usually only recommended if you have had monocular vision before as one eye is set for reading and one eye for remote vision. If you have never had monocular vision before, this will be handled with caution and your doctor may recommend that you first try monocular vision using contact lenses to see if you want to. Some people are unable to tolerate the adjustment of one eye for Near Vision and the other for distant vision.
Another option is to choose multifocal lenses to improve your reading vision and eyeglass-free vision at a distance, which are designed to provide a greater range of vision than traditional monofocal intraocular lenses.
Know that not everyone is a good candidate for lenses, part of its marketing is that it is called excellent intraocular lenses but that should not make you feel that they are better; they only serve a different purpose depending on the desired result. These lenses tend to be more expensive and will increase the cost of your out-of-pocket operation.
How long after surgery can I sleep on my side?
The procedure should not affect the way you sleep. You will be asked to wear a protective eye shield at night to avoid rubbing your eye while sleeping. You should avoid rubbing your eye during the day. For extra caution, you may want to avoid sleeping on your side for the first 24 hours, but this is usually fine as long as eye protection is used at night.
What should you not do after the operation?
During at least the first week of your recovery, it is essential that you avoid:
- Strenuous activity and heavy lifting.
- Bending, exercising, and similar activities may strain your eye during recovery.
- Any activity that will expose your healing eye to dust, dirt, or other contaminants that cause infection.
- Keep your eyes closed while showering or bathing. Also, avoid swimming or hot tubs for at least two weeks.
After 2-4 weeks you are able to resume normal activities. Your cataract surgeon may give you other instructions and recommendations for your recovery following cataract surgery, depending on your specific needs. If you have any questions at any time after the operation, speak to your cataract surgeon for advice.
If you need both eyes treated, your surgeon may prefer that you wait one to three weeks between both eye procedures. This is so that your first eye has time to heal and you have good vision in that eye before the second eye is operated on.
Are you lying down during the procedure?
The procedure is most commonly done under local anesthesia but sedation or general anesthesia are used if you are particularly nervous. You are lying down during the operation. For those that have difficulty laying flat some elevation of the operating bed can be done but it usually only a small amount.
What happens if cataract is left untreated?
If a cloudy lens is left untreated it can result in even more blurred vision as it progresses with time. Sometimes changing your glasses can help keep the vision bt often it will not help as the cataract become advanced. It is recommended to have cataract surgery if your vision is blurred from it and it is affecting your quality of life.
What is laser cataract surgery?
Femtosecond lasers — similar to the lasers used to create the corneal flap in LASIK refractive surgery — have been approved for use in cataract surgery.
These lasers are used in a number of steps in cataract surgery, reducing the need for surgical blades and other hand-held tools but an incision still needs to be made to access the cataract just as in traditional cataract surgery:
- Creating corneal incisions to allow the surgeon access to the lens
- Removing the anterior capsule of the lens which is the front layer coating the cataract
- Fragmenting the cloudy lens to break it into small pieces to be flushed out
- Creating side corneal incisions to reduce astigmatism (when needed)
After 2-4 weeks you can resume normal activities. Your cataract surgeon may give you other instructions and recommendations for recovery after cataract surgery, depending on your specific needs. If you have any questions at any time after the operation, talk to your cataract surgeon for advice.
If you need to treat both eyes, the surgeon may prefer to wait one to three weeks between the two eye operations. This is so that your first eye has time to heal and you have good vision in that eye before the second eye surgery is performed.
How long does the operation take to do?
Routine cataract surgery takes about 20 minutes although the time you spend in the hospital will be much longer and is usually half a day. This is because additional time is needed to prepare you for the operation, dilate the pupil and give any medication that may be required before surgery. After the procedure, you will be given instructions on how to take care of your eye and when you should re-attend or ask for help before you leave to go home.
You should have someone drive you home after leaving the hospital; do not try to drive until your ophthalmologist confirms that you are safe to drive.
You will be prescribed medical drops to use several times every day for a couple of weeks. You should also wear an eye shield while sleeping or napping for about a week after surgery.
Also, many hospitals require someone to be with you overnight if you receive general anesthesia or a sedative. Be sure to ask about this requirement before having a cataract operation so that you are ready on the day of the procedure.
During the healing of your eye, you may feel some redness of the eye and blurred vision during the first few days after the operation.