What is cataract eye surgery?
You’ve been told you have cataracts. Maybe your vision is blurry, colours seem dull, or bright lights are bothering you. But what exactly is cataract surgery—and how does it help?
Here’s everything you need to know about what cataract eye surgery is, how it works, and what to expect.
What is a cataract?
A cataract is the clouding of the natural lens inside your eye. It develops slowly and can cause:
- Multiple changes in glasses prescription
- Increased need for glasses
- Blurred or dim vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Faded colours
- Difficulty seeing at night
Cataracts are most common with age, but can also be caused by injury, medications, or health conditions like diabetes.
What is cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is a short, safe procedure to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear artificial lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL).
This restores your vision and can also reduce your need for glasses or contact lenses—especially if you choose a premium lens.
How is the procedure done?
Cataract surgery is done under local anaesthesia with numbing eye drops. You’ll be awake but relaxed and won’t feel pain. You will not see any of the instruments during the procedure.
Steps include:
- A small incision is made in the eye
- The cloudy lens is gently broken up and removed
- The artificial lens is inserted
The incision is so small it usually doesn’t require stitches.
The entire procedure takes about 10 minutes.
Is it safe?
Yes. Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most successful procedures in the world, with a high success rate and low risk of complications.
Will I be awake?
Yes—but you won’t feel discomfort. Most people find the experience easier than expected. If needed, a mild sedative can help you relax. You will only see indistinct patterns and none of the instruments will be visible.
What kind of results can I expect?
Most patients notice clearer, sharper vision within a day or two. Depending on the lens you choose, you may also:
- See better at both near and far distances
- Reduce or eliminate your need for glasses
Your vision continues to improve as the eye heals over several weeks.
Are there any risks?
As with any surgery, there are risks, but serious complications are rare. Professor Ursell will explain these and help you understand your individual risk.
Take the first step
Not sure if you need cataract surgery yet? Take our quick and easy suitability test to see if the procedure is right for you.
Are you considering treatment?
If you’re in our area and would like to learn more about your options, our team would be happy to help. Drop us a line and we’ll call you back:
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Are you suitable for vision correction surgery?
It isn’t suitable for everyone.
To find out more about your options, book a free video appointment with your Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon:
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What our patients say…
★ ★ ★ ★ ★“Excellent result. Complete confidence in Paul Ursell. Quiet, quick, and efficient. Peaceful and comfortable hospital.”
P.T★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“The cataract surgery on both of my eyes went very smoothly without any problems. There was no pain afterwards and I didn’t have to wear any eyepatch. I would highly recommend Professor Ursell for cataract surgery.”
M.S★ ★ ★ ★ ★“Highly professional, extremely efficient, and an excellent communicator, Paul exudes experience, knowledge, and ability. The whole process — initial consultation, operation, and post-op check-up — was wonderfully stress-free. I now have 20/20 vision, am glasses-free, and I am delighted by the results.”
S.B★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“The cataract surgery has completely changed my life. Mr. Ursell put me at ease and explained all options. The procedure was quick and painless and completely successful, and I now have 20/20 vision in my good eye. One of the reasons I had the surgery was because of Mr. Ursell’s standing and experience. Cannot praise highly enough.”
D.S★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“I was very short-sighted and my cataracts badly affected both reading and distance acuity. After the operation I now have very good distance vision (glasses-free) but still need glasses for reading. (This was the expected outcome as I did not want multi-focus implants). The operation was quick and painless, and I had no post-operative discomfort at all (which surprised me). The results are remarkable.
I can certainly recommend Professor Ursell. He is a personable consultant and a skilled surgeon.”
S.D★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“Dr. Paul Ursell squashed many of my concerns for not having cataract surgery. He offered comfort with examples of his long/distinguished career and new technology that he applies to the surgery.
Both before and after the surgery, Dr. Ursell and staff gave me the information and attention I needed. It was a great success, and I highly recommend Dr. Ursell.”
PTOWe have replaced the images of real patients who provided these testimonials to protect their privacy.
