Private cataract surgery Cambridgeshire

Improve blurred vision caused by cloudy areas on the lens of the eye.

At Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital, we provide high-quality cataract surgery to replace a cloudy lens in your eye with an artificial one, improving vision and allowing you to get back to everyday life.

Sometimes also called

  • Phacoemulsification

At a glance

  • Typical hospital stay
    A few hours

  • Procedure duration
    1 hour

  • Type of anaesthetic
    Local

  • Available to self-pay?
    Yes

  • Covered by health insurance?
    Yes

Why Spire?

  • Fast access to diagnostic tests and scans
  • Consultants who are experts in their field
  • Clear pricing with no hidden charges
  • Rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission

By Wallace Health I Medically reviewed by Adrian Roberts.
Page last reviewed: October 2018 I Next review due: October 2023

Cataract surgery: what to expect at Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital

At Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital we have many dedicated ophthalmologists who specialise in cataract removal surgery to improve your vision in a relatively straightforward procedure.

There’s no need to wait to have cataract surgery. We offer access to tests, scans and treatment without the wait, and hassle-free booking with appointment times to suit you.

How much does Cataract removal surgery cost at Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital

We offer many ways to pay and our inclusive prices and access to payment plans make it easy and more affordable, even if you don’t have medical insurance.​

Cataract surgery with eyesight correction
Initial consultation £180
Treatment price £2,661
Aftercare Included
From price From £2,841
Monthly treatment price

(Loan applicable to the treatment cost and excludes the initial consultation)

£129
Representative example
Loan amount £2,161
Deposit £500
Loan period 18 months
Representative APR 9.9%
Total amount repayable £2,322

The price shown is the ‘from price’ (ie the minimum cost of the procedure). Please note that for some procedures the actual price you are quoted may vary significantly and can increase depending on your choice of Consultant (who is an independent practitioner and not an employee of Spire). The fees charged by Consultants and Anaesthetists are set independently and are outside the control of Spire. The price may also vary depending on the type of anaesthetic, implant or drug used, and your medical history.

Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital can provide you with a single, fixed price for your procedure so there are no surprises. Please read Spire Healthcare's terms and conditions for full details of what’s included and excluded in your fixed price when paying for yourself. Finance options are available through our partner Omni Capital Retail Finance Ltd, 10 Norwich Street, London, EC4A 1BD.

Procedures offered for cataract surgery at Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital

At Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital, we offer a range of intraocular lenses. Your consultant will help you choose the best option for you. They include:

  • Monofocal – corrects either short or long sight, with a choice of three focal points
  • Toric – a monofocal lens that helps correct astigmatism (a problem with focusing)
  • Multifocal – corrects both near and distance vision, like varifocal glasses

We also have special equipment which uses a variety of biometry and refractive techniques to measure the shape and size of your eye. This is so your consultant can calculate the power of your intraocular lens implants.

You may still need to wear glasses afterwards, depending on your eyesight and your choice of lens.

Preparing for cataract surgery at Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital

Finding us

We’re 15 minutes by car from Cambridge train station, which has direct links into London's King's Cross and Liverpool Street stations. We have free on-site parking for you and your visitors.

Your consultations

Typically, you should be given an appointment with one of our consultants within a few days of enquiry. Your appointment will be in one of our 22 consultation rooms, at which time your consultant may discuss your symptoms or previous diagnoses.

Additionally, sight tests and biometry testing to calculate the power of new intraocular lens (IOL) may also be carried out if needed.

Cataract removal surgery

Watch how cataract removal surgery takes place

Cataract surgery: your procedure

Your appointment should take no more than an hour. There’s no need to pack an overnight bag, however, we suggest you bring a change of shirt as fluid may get onto your clothes when cleaning your eye.

If you've come with a friend or family member, they're welcome to wait while you have your operation.

Before your cataract operation, you’ll meet your healthcare team and you’ll be given a local anaesthetic in your eye, and sometimes also a sedative to relax you.

You’ll then have the procedure, which will involve:

  • Making a small incision (cut) into the front of your eye (the cornea)
  • Removing your cloudy lens using phacoemulsification – to break up the lens into small fragments
  • Inserting your new intraocular lens

Q & A

Roger McPherson, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon

Talking about cataract surgery

Cataract surgery: your recovery

After your cataract surgery, you’ll be taken to a recovery room to relax until your surgeon says you’re ready to go home. This is usually a few hours after cataract surgery.

Although everybody’s different and you should always follow your consultant’s advice, here’s a typical recovery timeline for cataract surgery:

1 week

Any eye pain, redness or itching should go

7-14 days

Stop wearing eye shield at night

10-14 days

Clear eyesight restored

4-6 weeks

Fully back to normal

  • 1 week


    Any eye pain, redness or itching should go

  • 7-14 days


    Stop wearing eye shield at night

  • 10-14 days


    Clear eyesight restored

  • 4-6 weeks


    Fully back to normal

The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.

Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital,

30 New Road
Impington
Cambridge
CB24 9EL

Get in touch

34751
True
treatment

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https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cataracts/ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cataract-surgery/recovery/

http://www.rnib.org.uk/eye-health/your-guide-cataracts/when-should-i-have-cataracts-surgery 

http://www.rnib.org.uk/campaigning-current-campaigns/eye-health 

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng77/chapter/recommendations#referral-for-cataract-surgery 

https://www.rcophth.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2010-SCI-069-Cataract-Surgery-Guidelines-2010-SEPTEMBER-2010-1.pdf 

https://www.rnib.org.uk/eye-health-eye-conditions-z-eye-conditions/cataracts-laser-treatment-following-cataract-surgery