Cataract Surgery Waiting Lists

Cataract surgery is the most effective treatment for cataracts — and having surgery sooner rather than later can be more beneficial as it prevents your cataracts from worsening. However, waiting lists for cataract surgery are relatively long on the NHS.

The alternative is opting for private surgery, which means paying for treatment yourself. While this may not be your preference, it does give you access to a shorter waiting list. Whether to get surgery through the NHS or go private can be a difficult choice to make, and for some people, waiting lists can be a deciding factor.

In our latest blog post, we explore the need for cataract surgery, how long you have to wait for the treatment and what it will cost should you go private. Discover everything you need to know about cataract surgery with Eye Clinic London.

Understanding cataracts and the need for surgery

Cataracts can develop as you age and cause the lens of your eye to become clouded. This blurring leads to a reduction in your sight — making tasks like reading and driving particularly difficult. You can develop cataracts in one or both eyes and they will develop gradually over time.

Common symptoms of cataracts include:

• Spots in your vision
• Rings around bright lights, especially at night
• Needing indoor light during the day
• Double vision
• Faded or washed-out colours

Cataracts don’t need immediate treatment when they first develop. Cataract surgery involves completely removing the vitreous gel in your eye where the cataract has formed. Ophthalmologists use an artificial lens to replace it.

Expert ophthalmologists and eye specialists typically recommend treatment for cataracts when they become severe. It can be challenging to detect cataracts in their early stages. However, once you start to experience vision loss, treatment is usually recommended to prevent it from worsening.

How long can you wait to have cataract surgery?

Deciding when to have cataract surgery is a personal decision, but you should make it with an ophthalmologist’s support. You must consider how severe your cataracts are and how badly they impact daily life. If your cataracts prevent you from doing the things you love or simple tasks like reading or driving, it can be a sign you need treatment.

If left untreated, cataracts can cause complete vision loss and are one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Delaying treatment puts your vision at risk and will have a detrimental effect on your quality of life.

Some people may need surgery sooner than others. For example, if your job requires you to look at screens or involves a lot of reading, your cataracts will prevent you from doing your job correctly. If your cataracts make it hard to look after yourself safely, you can need surgery.

With such a fast, easy treatment, leaving your cataracts to worsen over time is not good for your overall health and wellbeing.

Waiting time for cataract surgery NHS in 2023

The current wait time for cataract surgery on the NHS in 2023 varies. The wait time for non-urgent referrals can be 18 weeks from the day of your appointment. Ophthalmology is currently the busiest outpatient speciality, making up 10% of the waiting list.

Despite the long waiting list, the NHS is trying to reduce it by implementing new measures for eye care. To relieve the pressure and reduce waiting times, new and better ways of accessing eye testing will become available. There will also be more patient involvement when deciding which treatment is appropriate for you, helping to cut down waiting times. Digital imaging measures will aim to speed up eye testing appointments and provide more accurate results, and lower the number of people who are unnecessarily on the waiting list.

While these measures are beneficial, they will take some time to implement and make a real difference to the cataract surgery waiting list.

Exploring private cataract surgery

An alternative option to the long NHS waiting list is private cataract surgery. Choosing private cataract surgery can also have other benefits than a shorter wait time.

Some of the benefits of choosing private cataract surgery include:

• The freedom to choose your clinic and surgeon — you decide where you want to go and can pick a surgeon you trust
• Customisable surgery — you can opt for cataract surgery that uses innovative lenses to enhance your vision and reduce your need for glasses or contact lenses
• Easily accessible information — in the private sector, it can be easier and quicker to access the information you need about your procedure, including the outcome and side effects
• Quicker access to treatment — you can pick a time and date that’s convenient for you instead of waiting to receive an appointment

Waiting time for private cataract surgery

The waiting times are significantly shorter at private clinics like Eye Clinic London. Our wait time is four to eight weeks – much shorter than the standard 18-week wait time on the NHS. With such a short wait time for treatment, you can have your vision restored much sooner.

You can also schedule your cataract surgery at your convenience. There will be available dates and times to choose from, and you can simply pick one that works for you. No more waiting for a phone call or letter from the NHS that gives you a completely random date for your appointment. Using private clinics for cataract surgery gives you the luxury of convenience and high-quality treatment.

Cost of private cataract surgery

There are costs associated with private cataract surgery that you wouldn’t have to pay when choosing NHS treatment. However, these costs offer you many benefits that the NHS does not.

An example of private cataract surgery costs at Eye Clinic London are:

• Monofocal Lens – from £2495 per eye
• Monofocal Toric Lens – from £2970 per eye
• Multifocal Lens – from £3600 per eye
• Multifocal Toric Lens – from £3750 per eye

The pricing varies depending on which lens you choose and whether you have cataracts in one or both eyes.

The costs for private cataract surgery also include:

• Consultations
• Cataract surgery
• Medication
• Aftercare
• Lens fees
• Surgeons’ fees
• Hospital fees
• Six weeks’ worth of follow-up appointments

The breakdown shows you how much you get on top of the treatment. We can also schedule any consultations and follow-ups at your convenience. Although you spend money on treatment, you save time thanks to the convenience of private care and future-proof your vision.

Is private cataract surgery better than NHS cataract surgery?

Both NHS and private cataract surgery have advantages and disadvantages — it’s all about what works best for you. One major benefit of NHS treatment is you don’t have to pay for it. However, you might not receive personalised care, experience long wait times and you can’t choose your clinic and surgeon. When you opt for private cataract surgery, you may be offered varifocal lenses; the NHS does not offer them.

You must pay for private cataract surgery but the benefits of receiving convenient, prompt treatment and expert patient-centred care can greatly outweigh this one drawback.

Deciding which is right for you can be a tricky decision, so it’s important to discuss your options with your doctor or ophthalmologist. They can advise you on the type of cataract surgery you need and the NHS waiting time in your area. You must base your decision on your needs and health priorities.

Get in touch

Cataracts must be treated to retain and restore your vision. If you are considering cataract surgery, contact Eye Clinic London. Our dedicated team is happy to help with your enquiries and book convenient consultations so you can make the right decision for your eye health.

Sources

https://www.england.nhs.uk/2023/05/new-nhs-measures-to-improve-eye-care-and-cut-waiting-times/

https://eyecliniclondon.com/cataract/

https://eyecliniclondon.com/can-cataracts-be-reversed-naturally/