CATARACT SURGERY
Cataract surgery replaces the cloudy natural lens of the eye with an artificial lens to restore good vision, correct focus and reduce, or even eliminate, the need to wear glasses.
The lens of the eye is normally transparent. If a cloudy area develops in the lens, it is called a cataract. Vision becomes increasingly poor because cataracts reduce and scatter the light passing through the lens.
Early symptoms of a cataract include glare and sensitivity to bright light. Later, as the cataract continues to worsen, you may notice lights ‘flare’. Vision often becomes blurred, hazy and foggy, especially at a distance.
Cataracts usually develop slowly and at a different rate within each eye as a normal part of aging. By the age of 70, nearly everyone has some degree of cataract. Diabetes, various eye diseases, eye injury or excessive exposure to ultraviolet light may also cause cataracts.
Without surgery, symptoms may continue to worsen and loss of vision may interfere with daily activities and affect your quality of life. Once a lens becomes cloudy, it will not recover its normal clarity.
Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a permanently implanted artificial lens, called an intraocular lens. It is usually a day-surgery using local anaesthetic so there is no discomfort, and takes about 20 minutes. Light sedation means you won’t be aware of the anaesthetic injection either.
You will be unaware of the new lens, which is permanent and will not wear out. Recovery takes a few days, after which you should be able to return to work and other activities, including driving. Most people report an immediate improvement in their vision after surgery, although adjusting to the change may take a few weeks.
It is one of the safest, most effective and common eye operations performed in New Zealand.
If you have cataracts in both eyes, it is usual to wait a week or two until your first eye has healed before operating on your other eye.
Dr Beaumont will undertake a full assessment of the state of your eyes and your medical history and discuss with you whether cataract surgery is right for you.
Cataract surgery to correct astigmatism
Astigmatism is an imperfection in the curvature of the eye’s cornea or lens that causes blurred vision.
If you have significant astigmatism and need cataract surgery, a special toric intraocular lens provides greater potential for clear distance vision without glasses because it includes the same correction prescription as your glasses. You may still need glasses for reading and close work.
We will discuss whether you would benefit from a toric intralocular lens during your initial consultation.
Around 30 percent of Hawke’s Bay Eye patients who have cataract surgery and have significant astigmatism choose to have a toric intralocular lens, especially those who want better vision without glasses.
A toric intraocular lens is a premium lens and its additional cost is usually not covered by health insurance. If your policy covers a standard lens, Hawke’s Bay Eye will invoice you separately for the additional cost of a toric lens.
Common questions about cataract surgery
What should I expect at my initial cataract consultation?
At your initial cataract consultation, Dr Beaumont will undertake a thorough examination of your eyes, including measurements and scans, and review of your medical history. He will discuss your vision goals, explain cataract procedure options and answer any questions you may have to help you decide if cataract surgery is right for you.
Please bring your current reading glasses or contact lenses and a list of your current medications with you.
Please note: We may need to put drops in your eyes which may mean you will be more sensitive to glare and also have mild, temporary, difficulty in focussing. We therefore recommend you arrange for someone to drive you home afterwards.
Can I have cataract surgery if I have had laser eye surgery?
Yes, you can have cataract surgery after LASIK or any other type of laser vision correction procedure, because cataracts affect the lens and not the cornea, which laser eye surgery treats. If you have had laser vision correction, the lens calculations needed for cataract surgery are more complex and the end result less certain. Please bring all information about your laser vision correction with you to your initial consultation.
What kind of anaesthetic do I have? Will I have an anaesthetist looking after me?
With a fully qualified specialist anaesthetist as an important part of your surgical team, we are able to offer the full range of anaesthetic services.
Most cataract surgery is day surgery with a local anaesthetic. After having a sedative, the anaesthetist places local anaesthetic into the eye socket to block the movement of and feeling in the eye. The sedative means that you will have little memory of the local and also will be relaxed during your operation which is less than half an hour in duration. The anaesthetist monitors you throughout this time and ensures your comfort and safety. This is not available in all surgical centres. Sometimes a general anaesthetic is chosen, and an overnight stay at Royston Hospital is also available when required.
During local anaesthesia, there will be a nurse holding your hand so that you can signal any concerns that you may have.
Is cataract surgery covered by medical insurance?
Hawke’s Bay Eye is an approved provider of ophthalmology services by all New Zealand medical insurance companies.
We are a Southern Cross Healthcare Affiliated Provider, which means that if you are a member of Southern Cross Healthcare, we can apply for prior approval of your surgery and submit claims for affiliated services on your behalf. We will only bill you for any ‘gap’ not covered by your policy. More information about Southern Cross Healthcare’s Affiliated Provider programme is available here.
If your medical insurance is not with Southern Cross Healthcare, you will need to get prior surgery and direct billing approval from your insurance provider.
Hawke’s Bay Eye is also a registered provider of acute and elective ACC services.
How much will my cataract surgery cost?
We are an Affiliated Provider to Southern Cross healthcare, and approved by all other medical insurance companies, as described in previous paragraph.
For your information an outline of our prices is available here.
I don’t have medical insurance, how much will my cataract surgery cost?
Please contact us to discuss the likely cost of your cataract surgery, along with options for payment.
For further information please call us on 06 873 1152.
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