What is a cataract?

A cataract is a cloudy natural lens. The lens of the eye is found behind the iris, the coloured structure of the eye that gives us our green or brown eyes, and is normally clear and transparent. As we get older the lens loses its clarity, resulting in blurred and poor quality vision. Although usually a natural development, cataract  can also be associated with other eye conditions, the use of steroids or trauma to the eye.

Cataract surgery replaces the cloudy lens with a new artificial lens that lasts for life. It also provides a good opportunity to reduce or eliminate your need for distance and reading glasses.

Monofocal lens

This is the standard lens used for the majority of cataract operations in the UK, including the NHS. It provides good quality vision but it cannot provide clear vision for both distance and near; reading glasses will be needed for all near activities.

A monofocal lens can be combined with astigmatism reduction. This allows us to achieve the best possible distance vision without glasses. Reading glasses will be needed.

Reading and near vision can however be achieved with the use of monofocal lens:

1. Monovision focuses one eye for distance and the other eye for near, with appropriate selection of monofocal lens. A refractive work-up is carried out to assess your suitability and tolerance of monovision.

2. PRESBYOND laser blended vision is a laser vision correction procedure that can be carried out after standard cataract surgery with a monofocal lens. The principle is similar to monovision (one eye focused for distance, the other for near) but there is a smoother transition between the two eyes. A refractive work-up is carried out to assess your suitability and tolerance for this procedure.     

Extended depth of focus lens

An extended depth of focus lens provides good quality vision, achieving clear vision for both distance and near without glasses. As the visual performance of this lens favours distance and intermediate vision, a weak pair of reading glasses may be needed for reading small print, especially in dim light.

This lens can be combined with astigmatism reduction, allowing us to achieve the best possible vision without glasses. A refractive work-up is carried out to assess your suitability.

Trifocal multifocal lens

A trifocal lens provides overall good quality vision, achieving clear vision for both distance and near without glasses. The visual performance of this lens favours distance and near vision. The vast majority of patients can read very small print, however a weak pair of glasses may be needed for prolonged computer use.

This lens can be combined with astigmatism reduction, allowing us to achieve the best possible vision without glasses. A refractive work-up is carried out to assess your suitability.

How to proceed?

• Call or send us a message requesting an appointment for consultation

• Select a hospital for consultation: Wessex Nuffield, Guildford Nuffield, Southampton Spire or Southampton General Hospital 

• At your consultation your symptoms and needs will be ascertained, you will have a detailed eye examination and scans, and a surgical plan made to match your eyes and needs. Your pupils will be dilated, so please do not drive to the consultation

• Select a hospital for surgery: Wessex Nuffield, Southampton Spire or Southampton General Hospital

• Your surgery will normally take 15-30 minutes; however, expect to be at the hospital for 2-3 hours

• Select a hospital for your follow-up consultation: Wessex Nuffield, Guildford Nuffield, Southampton Spire or Southampton General Hospital