Frequently asked questions for international patients requiring cataract surgery

As a private Ophthalmic Surgeon, I often have international patients who come to London to have their procedure performed. With the travel, costs and time it takes to come to London, many of my international patients have a lot of questions. Here are my most frequently asked questions from my international patients requiring cataract surgery.

Can I have both cataract surgeries done at the same time?

I generally do not recommend having both cataracts done on the same day but I can make exceptions based on your specific requirements. There will be pros and cons that I discuss on having both cataracts operated in the same day. This is also known as bilateral sequential cataract surgery. I understand it may not always be possible and cost effective for patients to stay in London for a longer period of time to have this done.

If you were to have both cataracts surgically removed on different days, I suggest a minimum stay of 10 days in London.

Can I fly soon after my cataract surgery?

There is no immediate concern with flying soon after cataract surgery. My recommendation is to wait at least 3 or 4 days after your cataract surgery. This is because the air in an airplane cabin can be quite dry and cause eye irritation, which may lead to an increased risk of infection. Please refer to this general list of other do’s and don’ts for cataract surgery patients.

Can I organise all my appointments and surgery dates before I come to London?

Yes this is always possible. Just give us a ring at our clinic and we can always arrange a date for your first appointment, pre-operative tests, a date for your surgery and any post-operative visits to check that your surgery is a success.

How much does cataract surgery cost with you in London?

An overview of surgery costs can be found here.

We are happy to discuss any further specific requirements such as arranging accommodation or transport when you contact us directly.

I am arranging cataract surgery for my mother / father and they are very nervous about surgery. Will they be ok for surgery or will we waste our money coming to the UK if they cannot have surgery?

We offer all kinds of anaesthesia for cataract surgery.
If you are worried about surgery, I offer my patients a choice of relaxing sedation or mild general anaesthesia for cataract surgery. This is performed safely with my experienced consultant anaesthetist. Don’t worry, I have many nervous patients and this does not prevent successful cataract surgery.

Can I get my new glasses after cataract surgery in my home country?

Yes, you can if you need them. I would recommend waiting at least 3 weeks before getting new glasses after your cataract surgery if you need them. This can be done in London in one of my favoured optometry practices.

If you are unable to stay in the UK, you should be able to get your new glasses in your home country. I will always provide a full report on your cataract surgery, which you can show to your own optometrist in your home country so they are fully aware of what type of glasses you may need.

What if my cataract operation is not successful and I have returned to my home country?

The very large majority of patients who have cataract surgery have excellent vision afterwards but there can be rare complications. I would always recommend staying in the UK for at least 3 to 4 days to ensure you do not develop the rare chance of infection inside the eye or a retinal detachment.

If you have travelled back to you home country and do experience a problem after your cataract surgery I can arrange a free Skype video consultation or telephone call to understand the issues fully and arrange suitable treatment either back in London or with your local eye doctor.

My father/mother does not speak English very well – can she still have cataract surgery in London?

Yes, this is no problem. If your mother/father is accompanied by a relative who can translate, then we can explain all aspects of their cataract surgery to them.

I am happy to have a relative who can translate in my operating theatre to make cataract surgery as comfortable as possible for my non-English speaking patients.

If there are any other questions about cataract surgery in London, please feel free to contact us and I would be very happy to discuss your individual needs. I always enjoy meeting my international patients and I have had many happy patients that have had successful cataract surgery in the past.