Private cataract surgery Edinburgh

Spire Edinburgh Hospitals has been caring for patients privately across Scotland and beyond since 1984. We have many dedicated ophthalmologists who specialise in cataract removal surgery to improve your vision with 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 Edinburgh Hospitals, 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 also offer:

• YAG laser treatment
• Laser eye surgery
• Refractive lens exchange surgery

You may still need to wear glasses afterwards, depending on your eyesight and your choice of lens.

Getting here

Cataract surgery is carried out at Spire Shawfair Park Hospital. The hospital is to the south east of Edinburgh city centre, conveniently located close to the City Bypass and the Royal Infirmary.

We have free parking 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 our Spire Eye Centre. 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

On the day of your procedure, you’ll come into Spire Edinburgh Hospitals and meet your healthcare team. If you’ve come with a friend or family member, they’re welcome to wait in our lounge while you have your operation.

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: