The Day of Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is performed as day surgery: you arrive, have the procedure, and go home the same day.
Dr Hunt removes the cloudy lens through a very small incision and replaces it with a clear artificial lens. No stitches are usually required. For most patients, the improvement in vision is noticeable within the first few days.
It's natural to feel a bit nervous beforehand, but you're in good hands. A specialist anaesthetist looks after you throughout, supported by an experienced theatre team.
Once you've had some light sedation, sometimes called twilight anaesthesia, most patients settle quickly. The eye is fully numbed, so most patients feel nothing during the surgery and don't see instruments coming.
By the time you're sitting up in recovery with a cup of tea, most patients have little memory of the procedure itself. The most common reaction is surprise that it's already over, and that their anxiety was unfounded.
The Details
There's more to know about lens options, recovery, risks, and costs. These are covered in detail on their own pages, and discussed with you personally during your consultation.