Private cataract surgery London and Essex

At Spire London East 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 easy booking with appointment times to suit you.

At Spire London East 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
• Multifocal – corrects both near and distance vision, like varifocal glasses
• Toric – a monofocal lens that helps correct astigmatism (a problem with focusing)

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.

Getting here

We're located just a couple of miles from the M11 and only 20 minutes on the Central line tube to the city of London via Redbridge station. We have free on-site parking available for you and your visitors.

Your consultations

An appointment will be arranged with one of our highly trained consultants within a few days of your enquiry. You’ll meet them in one of our consultation rooms to discuss any symptoms or a previous diagnosis. They may carry out tests such as:

• Sight tests
• Biometry testing – to calculate the power of the new intraocular lens (IOL) required

Your consultant will explain how cataract surgery works and the options available to you, what you can expect afterwards and any risks. We encourage you to ask any questions you may have at this stage.

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 in our lounge while you have your operation.

Before your cataract operation you’ll meet with your healthcare team and will be given a local anaesthetic in your eye. If you're particularly nervous, you may be offered 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

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: