NHS Cataract Surgery without a long wait and local after care visits
Cataract surgery, also called lens replacement surgery, is the removal of the natural lens of the eye (also called “crystalline lens”) that has developed an opacification, which is referred to as a cataract, and its replacement with an intraocular lens.
NHS Cataract Surgery without a long wait and local after care visits:
Call us for NHS Cataract Surgery without a long wait. You can be seen locally for after care at our opticians in Earls Colne and Frinton on Sea. We are accredited to provide aftercare, updated spectacle prescriptions and referral for all cataract surgeries, lens exchange and replacement. The quick local referrals are available for both NHS and private eye clinics. We can help you with assessment of blurred vision due to eye problems including cataracts. We also offer guidance as to the best local providers, both for NHS and private cataract clinics.
The average waiting of cataract surgery under the NHS used to be about six week before covid. This can now take significantly longer in some areas. We can refer you to excellent specialized cataract clinics for the best fast local care. Contact us today.
What Is Cataract Surgery ?
A cataract is a clouding of the lens in your eye. As you age, proteins in your lens begin to break down and the lens becomes cloudy. Some people don’t even realise they have a cataract because it usually develops very slowly and may not impede vision early on. NHS Cataract Surgery is available locally without a long wait, there is no siginifcant discomfort during the treatment.
Research shows that a significant amount of cataract is caused by exposure to UV. Just like one uses UV protection for the skin, good UV blocking lenses should be worn when outside, even when it is overcast there is still a significant amount of UV radiation.
Some patients develop complications after cataract surgery, e.g. dysphotopsia, macular swelling, secondary cataract or a retinal detachment.
What Causes A Cataract ?
Most cataracts develop when aging or injury changes the tissue that makes up your eye’s lens.
You can reduce the chances of developing cataracts with life style changes, such as a UV protection, a good diet and losing weight.
Some inherited genetic disorders that cause other health problems can increase your risk of cataracts. Cataracts can also be caused by other eye conditions, past eye surgery or medical conditions such as diabetes. Long-term use of steroid medications, too, can cause cataracts to develop.
Early treatment for cataract surgery has also been shown to reduce the incidence of dementia and Glaucoma.
Cataract Surgery:
About 30% of adults aged 65+ will have a cataract that affects their vision and requires treatment. Cataract surgery is a relatively straightforward procedure. Is the most common operation performed today in the UK, with about 350,000 lens removal surgeries performed each year. Some patients have a lens exchange or laser eye surgery, this page explains the difference between lens exchange and laser eye surgery.
Where To Find Local Cataract Surgery Clinics In Essex and Suffolk ?
One of the most up to date clinics in this area is in Ipswich, New Medica. New Medica is a private clinic, paid for by the NHS. This excellent local cataract clinic aims to provide an appointment for assessment within two weeks of our referral. So no long NHS waiting times any more, ask to be referred for early cataract surgery.
We can also provide referral to the Oaks Hospital in Colchester, the Nuffield Hospital in Ipswich, or the West Suffolk eye clinic in Bury St Edmunds.
Colchester eye clinic have installed a FLACS instrument to enable very accurate cataract surgeries. FLACS stands for Femto Laser Assited Cataract Surgery. This instrument uses a laser to prepare the cornea and cataract for surgery.
Are There Any Complications With Cataract Surgery:
Some patients develop complications after cataract surgery, e.g. dysphotopsia, macular swelling, secondary cataract or a retinal detachment. We can assess you for these rare complications and refer you further for NHS treatment as needed. A secondary cataract is treated wtih a laser. This NHS paid for treatment takes about 5 minutes and can be done by Newmedica in Ipswich under the NHS. We can diagnose complications resulting from cataract surgery and refer you under the NHS to the appropriate clinic.
Well over 95% of operations are successful in restoring useful vision, with a low complication rate. Day care, high volume, minimally invasive, small incision cataract surgery using phacoemulsification with quick post-op recovery has become the standard of care in cataract surgery all over the world.
Some patients notice drier eyes after cataract surgery, this is due to the keyhole surgery and the cleaning products used to wash the eye out before surgery.
Symptoms
- Clouded, blurred or dim vision
- Increasing difficulty with vision at night
- Sensitivity to light and glare
- Need for brighter light for reading and other activities
- Seeing "halos" around lights
- Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription
- Fading or yellowing of colors
- Double vision in a single eye
Cataract Prevention
No studies have proved how to prevent cataracts or slow the progression of cataracts. But doctors think several strategies may be helpful, including:
- Have regular eye examinations
- Quit smoking
- Manage other health problems
- Choose a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables
- Wear sunglasses
- Reduce alcohol use
When To See Simon Kleyn Optician - Optometrist
Make an appointment for an eye test / examination if you notice any changes in your vision. If you develop sudden vision changes, such as double vision or flashes of light, sudden eye pain, or sudden headache, call us straight away.
Cataracts Surgery Video
excellent video provided by Newmedica for an explanation on cataracts and surgery
“Thank you to all our Newmedica NHS patients for sharing their stories with us to share with you. Our patients talk about the difficulties they were experiencing with their eye sight due to cataracts, how straightforward and quick (average surgery lasts about ten minutes) they found the surgery at Newmedica and what improvements the NHS cataract surgery has made to their quality of life. “
A secondary cataract can occur after the first cataract surgery. This is straightforward to remove and does not require further cataract surgery. The secondary cataract can occur due to regrowth of minor remnants at the back of the new lens. Sometimes it is a little tricky to remove all of the initital cataract and it is safer to leave this behind after the initial cataract surgery. Another cause for the secondary cataract can be the imflamatory response of the eye after surgery. The incidence of secondary cataract is about 2-3 % of all cataract surgeries. It is less likely to occur for early cataract surgery, so contact us today if you are concerned about possible cataracts.
The secondary cataract can be removed using a Nd:YAG laser, this is a painless and safe procedure lasting minutes. There is no risk of eye infections as no cuts have to be made to the eye. The vision clears virtually instantly. You may notice some minor floaters after the YAG laser, which should resolve in a day or so. If the floaters stay and or increase please consult us asap for a retinal check.
This video will show intimate surgical detail for cataract surgery.
Areas we cover and provide eye tests for:
Halstead Braintree Essex, Sudbury Essex, Bures, Coggeshall, Hedingham, Eight Ash Green, Stanway Colchester Essex, Marks Tey, Bradwell, Stisted, Earls Colne
Kirby Cross, Kirby Le Soken, Thorpe Le Soken, Holland on Sea, Great Holland, Weeley, Clacton-on-Sea, Great Oakley, Walton on the Naze, Harwich, Dovercourt, Frinton on Sea
Simon Kleyn Opticians
Optometrist In Frinton On Sea & Earls Colne
- 107-109 Pole Barn Ln, Frinton-on-Sea CO13 9NQ
- 01255 678 471
- frinton@skopticians.co.uk
- 106 High St, Earls Colne, Colchester CO6 2QX
- 01787 223 213
- earls@skopticians.co.uk
