Cataracts are cloudy areas of the lens of the eye that are normally clear. They can cause blurred vision and other sight problems which can affect your enjoyment of everyday life and your ability to work. Cataracts can usually be removed in a straightforward procedure lasting 20-45 minutes.

Why you might need it
Cataracts are very common, particularly among older people. Its no surprise, therefore, that surgery to remove them is the most common operation performed in the UK, with more than 300,000 procedures carried out each year according to clinical sources.

If you have cataracts you will usually have blurred, cloudy or misty vision. This happens because light cannot pass through the clouded lens to the back of the eye. Or you may see small spots or patches where your vision is less clear. Other symptoms might include double vision or finding it unpleasant to look at bright lights because of the amount of glare.

Our eyesight is fundamental to both our ability to function and for enjoying lifes pleasures - such as reading or watching television. It is frustrating to lose the ability to do these activities and have our enjoyment of life curtailed.

Surgery is the only proven effective treatment for cataracts.

According to guidance issued by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, cataract surgery improves vision and is also associated with improvements in activity, anxiety, depression, confidence and quality of life.

One of our highly trained consultant ophthalmologists will be able to offer you an initial consultation within a few days of contacting us. If you decide to book your cataract surgery with us youll be able to book an operation at a time and place that suits you.

This will usually involve a 20-45 minute procedure carried out after you have had anaesthetic eye drops to numb the eye surface. Your surgeon will replace the faulty lens with a new one.

While the NHS offers excellent eye care, some local NHS commissioners are limiting surgery to those who have particularly severe symptoms and waiting lists are long.