Cataract Surgery in United Kingdom
1 clinic(s) offering Cataract Surgery treatment in United Kingdom
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide in both men and women. Cataract eye clinics in the UK offer some of the most advanced treatment for cataracts. Renowned worldwide, eye doctors in the UK attract international patients who travel to the UK for world-class cataract surgery.
An increasing number of UK patients who have access to cataract eye surgery free of charge through the NHS (National Health Service) are choosing to seek private eye clinics for cataract extraction surgery to reduce the waiting time for operations, to receive more advanced treatments that are currently such as light adjustable lenses at a more convenient location.
Why do UK patients choose private cataract eye surgery?
NHS treatment provides an excellent choice for people who have no financial means to pay for cataract eye surgery, however receiving cataract eye surgery at a private hospital reduces the waiting time and could limit the amount of vision impairment caused by the cataract.
The long waiting lists for cataract extraction surgery on the NHS mean many UK patients experience a waiting time that exceeds national guidelines. The recommended time frame for cataract removal is 3 months for the first cataract and within 6 months for extraction of a second cataract. With the lengthening waiting lists, many NHS hospitals fail to meet these guidelines and often UK patients wait up to a year for cataract surgery.
With NHS hospitals sharing waiting lists for cataract eye surgeries, cataract removal operation may be scheduled in an NHS hospital that is not local to the patient or may be scheduled at short notice due to a cancellation on the waiting list.
The cloudy eye symptom of cataracts should disappear once the surgeon removes the cataract, however the eye drops used to dilate the pupil leave vision blurry and patients will have distorted vision for 4-6 hours after surgery.
If patients schedule an operation at a private cataract clinic, the location of the clinic is the patient’s choice - making it easier to plan the route to and from the hospital and the date of the operation is also chosen by the patient so arrangements can be made for somebody to assist on the day of the cataract extraction surgery.
NHS surgeons are qualified to the same standards as private eye surgeons and the experience of NHS versus private surgeons should not be a consideration. However, NHS cataract eye surgeries are performed by a cataract team not one individual surgeon. This means that the surgeon patients consult at the pre-operation consultation may not be the surgeon who operates. Choosing to have cataract extraction surgery at a private cataract clinic allows patients to meet the cataract surgeon who will perform the procedure.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The beautiful partings are dominated by rugged shorelines and ancient history.
London is located within the rolling hills of the multicultural southeast providing a wild and windswept coast; the land is striking and beautiful.
The highlands of Scotland remain in true wilderness fashion – enraptured by snow-capped backdrops and art-drenched stunning cities to explore.
Imposing peaks offer breathtaking views as do the white sandy beaches, sheltered bays and rocky cliffs. Scotland has long conjured up romantic settings, with stories of heroic clans and a thriving arts scene.
Visit the Tower of London, the legendary Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral before continuing on to Trafalgar Square where the National Gallery of Art is promised to be an unforgettable experience.
Enjoy the grand Buckingham Palace and relish in UK history.
The price of cataract eye surgery in the UK is between £1200-3000 per eye, depending on the type of replacement eye lens used after the cataract extraction. Many UK eye clinics offer funding options to patients.
International medical tourism is massively comparable to the US, and provides low cost cataract eye surgery. Most of the institutions abroad are accredited by international standard accreditation agencies which warrant high quality of medical and surgical care.
High quality of medical care combined with enormous savings of up to 50% on cataract surgery cost has promoted the growth of medical tourism industry in the UK.