Private cataract surgery Portsmouth

We’re proud to have a dedicated team of ophthalmologists (eye specialists) that provide cataract removal surgery centred around your needs.

We offer fast access to tests, scans and treatment and hassle-free booking with appointment times to suit you.

At Spire Portsmouth 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 have a choice of different makes including:

• Rayner
• Alcon
• AcuFocus
• Spectrum

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

Spire Portsmouth Hospital is located on the West Sussex/Hampshire border, a 15 minute drive from both Portsmouth and Chichester. We have free on-site parking for yourself 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 15 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 restaurant while you have your operation.

Before your procedure, 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

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: