Cataract removal surgery at Spire Elland Hospital

At Spire Elland 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.

At Spire Elland Hospital, we offer a range of intraocular lenses. Your consultant will help you choose the best option for you.

Cataract surgery and refractive lens exchange are routine procedures which involve replacing the natural lens with an artificial one, known as an intraocular lens (IOL). The new lens is designed to correct short- or long-sightedness, which should minimise your dependency on glasses after surgery. Surgery is usually performed on one eye at a time. If the second eye also requires surgery, you may experience an imbalance in vision between operations.

It may be that the surgery doesn’t give you the exact result that you desire. You may still need to wear glasses or contact lenses for certain tasks after your treatment (eg at the cinema, theatre or night driving).

We 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.

Getting here

Spire Elland Hospital is situated just 2 minutes’ drive from the M62 motorway meaning we’re convenient for patients in Calderdale, Huddersfield, Kirklees, Dewsbury and Bradford. Public transport options are available. We have free parking on-site for you and your visitors.

Your consultations

One of our experienced consultant ophthalmologists will be able to offer you an initial consultation within a few days of your enquiry.

All your consultations will take place in one of our 13 private rooms. During your consultations, we'll:

• Ask about your medical history
• Carry out a series of tests, including a sight test and biometry testing – to calculate the power of the new intraocular lens (IOL) required
• Explain about the procedure, anaesthetic, the different types of IOLs available, and any potential cataract surgery complications and risks and how they may affect you
• Give you a chance to ask any questions you have about your treatment

On the day of your procedure, you’ll come into Spire Elland Hospital and meet your healthcare team. If you’ve come with a friend or family member, they’re welcome to wait in your private room while you have your surgery.

You’ll only be here for a few hours, so you won’t need to bring too much with you. You may like to bring a change of shirt in case the fluid used to clean your eye gets onto your top.

You’ll be given a local anaesthetic in your eye, and your consultant may also give you a sedative to make you feel more relaxed during the procedure.

When you’re ready, your consultant will:

• Make a small incision (cut) into the front of your eye (the cornea)
• Remove your cloudy lens using phacoemulsification – this breaks up the lens into small fragments
• Insert 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: