FAQs

Cataract surgery is performed as a day case procedure. On average you will stay in hospital for a few hours, to include admission, surgery, recovery and discharge.

Cataract surgery is not a painful procedure. The vast majority of patients can have their surgery performed with numbing eye drops, with or without a mild sedative. Occasionally cataract surgery can be performed while you are asleep, under general anaesthetic, subject to your general health.

Some surgeons do perform cataract surgery in both eyes at the same time. Due to the very small risk of infection occurring in both eyes at the same time, Mr Ismail does not perform bilateral simultaneous cataract surgery, but you can have both cataracts removed in quick succession.

You will need to take eyedrops for 4 weeks following routine cataract surgery.

The majority of patients having cataract surgery will need spectacles, usually for reading purposes. In some cases, cataract surgery can provide spectacle independence, although a thorough discussion and examination is required prior to surgery. For more information, see Types of Intraocular Lenses.

Visual recovery following cataract surgery is usually fast. The ability to get back to driving following cataract surgery will depend on a number of factors, including the health of the back of your eyes and the degree of focus difference between the eyes. Each case is individual, but in the majority of cases where the eyes are healthy, and without significant difference in focus power between the eyes, it is usual to be legal for driving within a week or two.

Following cataract surgery, sports involving contact or heavy exertion are best avoided for at least two weeks due to risk of injury to the eye. Lighter sports such as golf can often be started 1-2 weeks after surgery. With all sports involving a risk of impact to the eye, eye protection should be worn.

Cataracts do not fully regrow, but occasionally a fine membrane can form behind the implanted intraocular lens. This may cause a blurring of vision months to years after your operation. If this membrane occurs, it is simply and quickly treated in the clinic by a laser procedure.

This depends upon the treatment you are having. Many small eyelid lesions can be treated in the outpatient clinic within less than an hour. Larger procedures such as Blepharoplasty and Ptosis correction will usually involve a stay in hospital for a few hours.

For smaller eyelid procedures performed in the outpatient clinic, you will be awake, but your eyelid will be numbed with a local anaesthetic, making you feel comfortable for the treatment. For most larger eyelid procedures, you will have your operation with local anaesthetic and sedation. In some cases you may prefer to be asleep for the operation, and this can be achieved by general anaesthesia subject to your medical condition.

The amount of swelling after Upper or Lower lid Blepharoplasty can vary between individuals. Post operative swelling can be improved by keeping your head more upright with pillows at night time, and by using cold compresses. In general, it is best to plan 2-3 weeks downtime following Blepharoplasty surgery.

It is best to avoid using eye make up for at least 2 weeks following surgery. This is to avoid the chance of wound infection or inflammation.

For the majority of operations, dissolvable sutures are used. Occasionally, non-absorbable sutures will be used, and if this is the case, Mr Ismail will advise on when these need to be removed.

Swimming can introduce infection into an eyelid wound. It is best to avoid swimming for at least 4 weeks after eyelid surgery. Thereafter, goggles should be worn for 2 months.