NHS Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is generally not painful. You stay awake during the procedure, but anaesthetic eye drops numb your eye so you typically feel only mild sensations such as pressure, tugging, or movement. On the rare occasion that discomfort or pain does occur, the surgeon during your surgery will advise you on how to alert them. A small pellet will be inserted in the eye to dilate your pupil before surgery, giving the surgeon a clear view and reducing the risk of complications.

After the anaesthetic wears off, it’s normal to experience slight discomfort, mild itching, or a gritty sensation for a day or two, which can usually be managed with over-the-counter painkillers. Your nurse will guide you on post-surgery care, including protecting your eye, using prescribed drops, and monitoring for any unusual symptoms to support a safe and comfortable recovery.

Cataract surgery is a quick and straightforward procedure, with routine surgery normally taking up to 20 minutes to complete. Most patients spend two to three hours at the hospital on the day of surgery and can go home the same day.

Your eye will be numbed with anaesthetic drops, and for some patients a protective eye shield is worn overnight. Temporary side effects such as blurred or double vision, watery or gritty eyes, and redness are normal for the first few days. Full healing and vision stabilisation typically take four to six weeks, after which you can resume normal activities as advised by your clinical team.

Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens is unevenly shaped, causing blurred or distorted vision. It can affect one or both eyes and may occur alongside short- or long-sightedness. There are two types: regular astigmatism, which is easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses, and irregular astigmatism, often caused by corneal injury, which may require specialised lenses.

Cataract surgery is unlikely to make astigmatism worse. In rare cases, minor changes may occur during healing if the artificial lens shifts slightly, but this is uncommon and usually does not significantly affect vision.

Short-sightedness, also called myopia, means you can see close objects clearly but distant objects appear blurry. Cataract surgery can correct short-sightedness by replacing the natural lens with an intraocular lens (IOL) tailored to your prescription.

Patients who have both eyes treated usually achieve the best results, as the untreated eye may remain short-sighted. Those with high levels of myopia may have a slightly increased risk of complications such as retinal issues, but cataract surgery often provides dramatic improvement in vision and quality of life for short-sighted patients.

After cataract surgery, you may still need glasses because a standard NHS monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) can only correct vision for either near or distance, not both. If you had both long- and short-sightedness before surgery, glasses are usually still required, though your prescription may change due to improved vision.

Private cataract surgery offers more lens options, including multifocal and toric lenses, which can correct astigmatism and reduce the need for glasses.

Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed operations in the UK. According to NHS England data cited by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, approximately 706,000 cataract operations were performed in England during 2024/25.

The vast majority of surgeries use phacoemulsification, an ultrasound technique to remove the natural lens, and are performed under local anaesthetic. Surgery is quick, normally taking up to 20 minutes for a routine procedure, with patients generally staying in hospital as a day case for a few hours. Full recovery generally takes several weeks, though most people can resume daily activities while their eye heals.

Cataract surgery is one of the most common and safe operations in the UK. It removes the eye’s cloudy natural lens and replaces it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to restore vision. The most common method, phacoemulsification, uses a small incision and an ultrasound device to break up and remove the lens.

After the new lens is inserted, the incision is closed and a protective shield is placed over the eye. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic with numbing eye drops, so you remain awake and usually feel only mild pressure. Appointments typically last around three hours, with the surgery itself taking 15–20 minutes. You can usually go home the same day, and full healing takes about four to six weeks.

Cataract surgery is a safe and straightforward procedure with excellent success rates. It removes the eye’s cloudy natural lens and replaces it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The surgery is performed under local anaesthetic using numbing eye drops, so you remain awake and feel minimal discomfort. Most operations are outpatient, allowing you to go home the same day.

The procedure typically lasts around 10 minutes, although your hospital visit may take two to three hours. Phacoemulsification, the most common technique, uses ultrasound to break up the lens before removal. The new lens is inserted, antibiotic solution is applied to prevent infection, and for some patients a protective shield is placed over the eye for 24 hours.

Cataract surgery at SpaMedica is generally performed under local anaesthetic using eye drops, so you’ll be awake during the procedure and can go home the same day. General anaesthetic is offered at a few sites, but please check with your community Optometrist first.

If you prefer to be asleep during surgery, you should inform your optician or GP so they can refer you to a provider that offers general anaesthetic cataract surgery.

LASIK surgery corrects vision problems like short-sightedness, long-sightedness, and astigmatism, but it cannot treat cataracts. Patients with age-related cataracts are generally not suitable for LASIK. In some cases, people with small, stable cataracts, such as certain congenital cataracts, may still be considered. 

The NHS usually will provide a monofocal intraocular lens, which generally improves vision, but may mean you need glasses after the operation as its primary function is to replace the clouded lens. Alternative intraocular lens options for can reduce dependence on glasses or contact lenses, although these are more expensive and provided through a private service. Always consult your optician or surgeon to determine the best option for your eyes.

Laser assisted cataract surgery uses precision femtosecond lasers to make corneal incisions, perform the anterior capsulotomy, and fragment the lens. The cataract itself is not removed by the laser; it is still extracted using traditional surgical techniques.

Some surgeons and optometrists believe lasers can offer extra precision, but experienced surgeons can achieve excellent results without them. Laser assisted cataract surgery is usually more expensive than traditional surgery and is not available on the NHS, though both methods are highly effective and safe.

During cataract surgery, you will normally be awake, with anaesthetic eye drops used to numb your eye. You may notice bright lights, colours, shadows or movement during the procedure, but you will not be able to see the details of the operation or the instruments being used. What you see can vary from person to person.

Retinal detachment occurs when the retina separates from the back of the eye, often due to fluid passing through small tears. Cataract surgery slightly increases the risk, with studies suggesting it affects around 1-2% of patients after surgery.

The risk is higher in some patients, for example, high short-sightedness. If you are at a higher risk of retinal detachment, your clinician will discuss this with you at the time of pre assessment. If you experience flashes, floaters or a curtain-like shadow after cataract surgery, you should contact your optician or eye care provider immediately.