Private cataract surgery Thames Valley

At Spire Thames Valley Hospital, our team of ophthalmologists (eye specialists) can offer you cataract removal surgery and lens options that are recommended for you and your needs.

We offer fast access to diagnostic tests and scans and easy booking with appointment times to suit you, so you don’t have to wait long to find out if treatment is right for you.

At Spire Thames Valley Hospital, we offer a range of intraocular lenses. Your consultant will help you choose the best option for you. We also have special equipment that 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.

How to find us

We’re only a 10 minute drive from both the M4 and M40 motorways and we’re less than half an hour from central London by train. We have free parking at the front and back of the hospital.

Your consultations

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

Your appointments will take place in one of our 10 consultation 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 Thames Valley Hospital and meet your healthcare team. If you came with a friend or family member, while you’re having your surgery, they’re welcome to wait in our lounge which has free hot drinks and water, a TV and magazines.

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: