Cataract surgery
A common operation to remove the eye's cloudy lens and replace it with a clear artificial lens to restore clearer vision.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- Cataract surgery replaces the eye's cloudy lens with a clear artificial one, and is the only way to treat a cataract.
- Most people see more clearly afterwards, but many still need glasses for some tasks, especially reading.
- It is usually a quick day case under local anaesthetic, with vision improving over days to weeks.
- Serious complications are uncommon but can affect sight; you will be given lens choices and clear aftercare.
A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.
At a glance
A general guide. Your surgeon will give you advice for your situation.
Clearer, brighter vision and better colour for most people
Your cataract is mild and not affecting your daily life — surgery may not yet be worthwhile.
Vision is blurred and the eye may feel gritty. Rest, avoid rubbing the eye, and use the shield as advised (especially at night). Do not drive.
Clear instructions on using eye drops and wearing the shield, with a follow-up check.
Vision is blurred and the eye may feel gritty. Rest, avoid rubbing the eye, and use the shield as advised...
Vision usually starts to clear. Begin or continue the prescribed eye drops, avoid getting water or soap in the...
Vision continues to improve and settle. Most people return to normal activities; your team will advise when...
The eye has usually settled and a final glasses prescription can be checked. The second eye, if needed, is often...
What is cataract surgery?
A cataract is when the natural lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, blurring vision and sometimes causing glare or faded colours. It is very common with age. Cataract surgery removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with a clear artificial lens (an intraocular lens, or IOL) that stays in the eye permanently.
Surgery is the only way to treat a cataract — glasses, drops and lifestyle changes cannot clear it. It is usually offered when the cataract is affecting things you need or want to do, such as reading, driving or daily tasks, rather than simply because a cataract exists. One eye is normally done at a time.
For most people it restores clear vision and is done as a quick day case under local anaesthetic. It is one of the most commonly performed and well-studied operations, but it is still surgery on the eye: complications are uncommon but can occasionally affect sight, and most people still need glasses for some tasks afterwards.
Types & techniques
There isn't one single operation. The right approach depends on you — which is something to discuss with your surgeon.
Monofocal vs multifocal lens
| Monofocal | Multifocal |
|---|---|
| Clear at one distance | Aims for several distances |
| Usually need reading glasses | Less reliance on glasses |
| Fewer night-time glare effects | Halos/glare possible at night |
| Standard NHS lens | Usually private, extra cost |
| Predictable, well-established | Not suitable for every eye |
Multifocal lenses are not better for everyone and do not suit every eye. They reduce, but do not always remove, the need for glasses, and some people find night-time glare bothersome. Your surgeon should advise what fits your eyes and lifestyle.
Preparing for your surgery
- Have your eyes measured (biometry) so the right lens power can be chosen.
- Discuss what vision you want and whether a monofocal or other lens suits your eyes and budget.
- Tell the team about eye conditions (such as glaucoma, macular degeneration or previous eye surgery) and about diabetes.
- Mention all medicines, including any for an enlarged prostate (some affect the pupil during surgery), and blood thinners.
- Arrange a lift home, as your vision will be blurred straight afterwards.
- Plan to use prescribed eye drops for around 4 weeks after surgery.
- Ask whether you should keep taking your usual eye drops or medicines on the day.
What happens
Cataract surgery is usually done as a day case under local anaesthetic, given as eye drops, an injection around the eye, or both, so the eye is numb and you stay awake. It typically takes about 20 to 45 minutes for one eye.
The surgeon makes a very small cut in the surface of the eye, uses ultrasound to break up and remove the cloudy lens, and inserts a clear folded artificial lens that opens into place. The cut is so small it usually seals itself without stitches. You will see light and movement but not the detail of the operation. Afterwards the eye is often covered with a shield, and you can usually go home once you have rested and had aftercare advice.
Is this operation right for me?
A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.
May not be suitable if…
- Your cataract is mild and not affecting your daily life — surgery may not yet be worthwhile.
- Your vision loss is mainly due to another eye condition, so removing the cataract may help little.
- An active eye infection or inflammation needs treating before any surgery.
- You expect to be completely glasses-free with a standard lens, which is usually not the case.
Delay surgery if…
- You have an active eye infection, significant inflammation or an unstable eye condition.
- You have an untreated problem such as uncontrolled diabetes affecting the eye.
- You cannot use the post-operative eye drops or attend follow-up.
- You cannot arrange a lift home or support immediately after surgery.
- You are unsure about lens choice and need more time to decide.
Alternatives to discuss
- Updating your glasses and using brighter lighting if the cataract is mild.
- Watchful waiting until the cataract affects your daily activities.
- Treating any other eye condition that is also reducing your vision.
- Choosing a standard (monofocal) lens rather than paying for premium options.
- The NHS pathway rather than private care if speed is not the priority.
Before you decide
Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.
What matters most to me?
Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.
What are all my options?
Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.
What would make me pause?
Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.
What happens if I do nothing today?
For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.
Anaesthetic choices
The safest option depends on the operation, your health, the facility and your surgeon/anaesthetist. Ask what is planned and why.
Benefits
- Clearer, brighter vision and better colour for most people
- Reduced glare and improved night vision in many cases
- Can make driving and daily tasks easier again
- A quick day-case procedure under local anaesthetic
- The artificial lens is permanent and does not need replacing
- Can correct some long- or short-sightedness depending on the lens chosen
Risks & complications
- Blurred vision for a few days while the eye settles
- A gritty, watery or mildly sore eye for a short time
- Redness or a bloodshot patch on the white of the eye
- Sensitivity to light for a few days
- Still needing glasses for some tasks, especially reading with a standard lens
- Clouding of the lens capsule behind the new lens (PCO), causing vision to blur again months or years later, treated with a quick laser (YAG capsulotomy)
- Swelling at the back of the eye (macular oedema) that blurs vision and usually settles with treatment
- A tear in the back of the lens capsule during surgery (posterior capsule rupture), which can affect the outcome
- Raised pressure in the eye for a time
- Needing further treatment or a second procedure
- Serious eye infection inside the eye (endophthalmitis), which can threaten sight
- Retinal detachment, which needs urgent treatment
- Bleeding inside the eye
- Significant or permanent loss of vision (very rare)
Cataract surgery has a strong track record, and the great majority of people see better afterwards. The complications that matter most are rare but sight-threatening — infection inside the eye and retinal detachment — so it is vital to know the warning signs and to seek help fast. Risk can be higher in eyes with other conditions (such as a very short or long eye, pseudoexfoliation, or previous surgery). Ask your surgeon about your personal risk and what lens result to expect.
Published figures to discuss
Cataract surgery is one of the most studied operations, with large UK national audit data. Most people gain clearer vision. The figures below are cautious ranges from the RCOphth National Ophthalmology Database and UK studies; risk is higher in eyes with other conditions and with less experienced surgeons, and these are population figures, not guarantees for any one person.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Improved vision after surgery | Around 8 in 10 eyes are in a better vision category at follow-up; most with no other eye disease achieve good vision | Eyes with another condition (such as macular degeneration) improve less. From RCOphth national audit data. | RCOphth National Ophthalmology Database — cataract surgery report 1 (visual outcomes and complications, PubMed)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govSource-linked context |
| Posterior capsule rupture (tear during surgery) | Around 1–2% (about 1.0–2.0% in UK national audits) | Can affect the visual result and raises the risk of other complications; higher with trainee surgeons or complex eyes. | RCOphth National Ophthalmology Database — cataract surgery report 1 (visual outcomes and complications, PubMed)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure |
| Endophthalmitis (serious infection inside the eye) | Very rare, roughly 0.01–0.03% (about 1–3 in 10,000) | Sight-threatening; needs urgent treatment. Warning signs must be explained. | RCOphth National Ophthalmology Database — cataract surgery report 1 (visual outcomes and complications, PubMed)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure |
| Posterior capsule opacification needing YAG laser | Common over months to years; one UK NOD study recorded PCO in 12.3% of eyes, with YAG indicated in 37.2% of those cases | Not a surgical error; treated with a quick, usually not painful laser that usually restores vision. | RCOphth National Ophthalmology Database — cataract surgery report 1 (visual outcomes and complications, PubMed)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure |
These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.
Recovery — what to expect, and when
Most people are home within hours and notice clearer vision within a few days, with full settling over a few weeks. Eye drops are used for around 4 weeks.
- Blurred vision for the first few days that gradually clears
- A gritty, watery or mildly sore feeling for a short time
- Redness or a bloodshot patch on the eye
- Sensitivity to bright light for a few days
- Needing to use eye drops for around 4 weeks
Aftercare
- Use the prescribed eye drops exactly as directed, usually for around 4 weeks.
- Avoid rubbing or pressing the eye, and wear the shield at night if advised.
- Keep water, soap and shampoo out of the eye, and avoid swimming until cleared.
- Avoid eye make-up and dusty or dirty environments early on.
- Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity for the time your surgeon advises.
- Do not drive until your vision meets the legal standard and your team agrees.
- Attend any follow-up checks and report sudden pain or vision change urgently.
- Wear sunglasses outdoors if the eye is light-sensitive.
- Prescribed eye drops collected and a dosing schedule planned
- Eye shield to wear at night
- A lift home arranged for the day of surgery
- Sunglasses for light sensitivity
- A few days set aside before busy or close-up activities
- The clinic's emergency eye contact number saved
- Knowledge of warning signs (pain, sudden vision loss, flashes/floaters)
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- Increasing or severe eye pain
- A sudden drop in vision or loss of vision — seek help immediately
- Increasing redness with discharge, or the eye becoming more painful and blurred over days (possible infection)
- New flashes of light, a shower of floaters, or a shadow or curtain across vision (possible retinal detachment — urgent)
- Worsening sensitivity to light with pain
- Nausea or vomiting with eye pain
Who to contact: your surgeon or clinic first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your surgeon gives you.
Results & realistic expectations
For most people, cataract surgery clearly improves vision: in large UK audits the majority of eyes see better afterwards, and most achieve good vision when there is no other eye disease. Vision usually settles within a few weeks.
The result depends partly on the health of the rest of the eye — if there is another condition such as macular degeneration, vision may improve less than hoped. With a standard (monofocal) lens, most people still need glasses for some tasks, usually reading. A good surgeon explains the realistic visual result for your eye before you decide.
The artificial lens is permanent and does not wear out or need replacing. Cataracts do not come back. However, the capsule that holds the lens can gradually cloud over months or years (posterior capsule opacification), causing vision to blur again; this is easily treated with a quick laser. Any separate, ongoing eye conditions continue to need their own care.
Combining with other procedures
The two eyes are usually done as separate operations, often weeks apart, so the first can heal and the lens result can be checked. Cataract surgery is sometimes combined with glaucoma surgery in selected people. Be cautious about being upsold premium lenses or laser add-ons that may not benefit your particular eye.
Follow-up & long-term care
You are usually given drops and a follow-up plan, with a check to confirm the eye has settled and to update your glasses prescription at around 4–6 weeks. If the second eye needs surgery, it is usually scheduled after the first has healed. You should have a clear, fast route back to the eye team for any sudden pain or vision change.
- Continue any treatment for other eye conditions, such as glaucoma or macular degeneration.
- Have your glasses prescription checked once the eye has settled.
- Attend routine eye tests so other conditions are picked up.
- Report any later blurring of vision, which may be easily treatable clouding behind the lens.
Revision and secondary surgery reality
- Clouding behind the lens (PCO) is common over time and is treated with a quick YAG laser, not repeat surgery.
- If a complication such as capsule rupture occurs, a further procedure or different lens placement may be needed.
- The glasses prescription often needs updating once the eye has settled.
- Rarely, the lens position needs adjusting or the lens needs exchanging.
Ask your surgeon for their own revision rate, what counts as a revision, and what is included in the written aftercare policy.
What good aftercare looks like
- Clear instructions on using eye drops and wearing the shield, with a follow-up check.
- Written, specific warning signs (severe pain, sudden vision loss, flashes/floaters) and a 24-hour eye emergency contact.
- A plan to update glasses once the eye has settled.
- Clear guidance on driving and returning to normal activities.
- A defined route for treating later clouding (YAG laser) if vision blurs again.
What affects the cost
Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:
- Whether one or both eyes are treated
- The type of lens chosen (standard monofocal versus premium multifocal or toric)
- Standard versus laser-assisted technique
- Surgeon's fee and the facility fee
- Eye measurements (biometry) and pre-operative assessment
- Eye drops and follow-up appointments
- The policy if a complication or a further procedure (such as YAG laser) is needed
- The surgeon's fee and the facility fee, per eye
- The type of lens included and any extra cost for premium lenses
- Pre-operative eye measurements and assessment
- Post-operative eye drops and follow-up appointments
- Whether later YAG laser treatment for clouding is covered
- The cancellation policy
- What happens, and who pays, if a complication occurs or further surgery is needed
On the NHS? Cataract surgery is widely available on the NHS when a cataract affects daily life, though the exact threshold can vary by area; private care is often chosen for speed, choice of surgeon or premium lens options.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.
Consent traps and marketing red flags
These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.
Consent traps
- Premium lenses or laser surgery sold as clearly better without evidence for your eye.
- Not being told you will probably still need glasses for some tasks with a standard lens.
- Other eye conditions that limit the result not being clearly explained.
- Warning signs of infection and retinal detachment not spelled out.
- No clear, fast route back to the eye team for sudden pain or vision change.
Marketing red flags
- Promising you will 'never need glasses again'.
- Implying surgery is completely without risks or guaranteed.
- Heavy pressure to choose expensive premium lenses or laser add-ons.
- No mention of rare but sight-threatening complications or how they are managed.
Choosing a surgeon safely
- Check your surgeon is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
- Make sure they practise at a CQC-registered location, and look for membership of bodies like BAAPS or BAPRAS.
- You're entitled to a two-stage consent process with time to reflect (a cooling-off period). The surgeon who will operate must consent you — not a salesperson.
- Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers, discounts or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
- You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.
Questions to ask your medical professional
Take this to your consultation. A good surgeon will welcome every one of these.
- Is my cataract affecting my vision enough to justify surgery now?
- What lens do you recommend for my eye and lifestyle, and will I still need glasses?
- Do I have any other eye conditions that could limit how much my vision improves?
- Is my personal risk higher than average, and why?
- What are the exact warning signs of infection or retinal detachment, and who do I call?
- Will both eyes be done, and how far apart?
- Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
- Will you be the surgeon who carries out my operation, and who looks after me afterwards?
- What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
- What does a realistic result look like — and what can this operation not achieve?
- What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
- Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
- What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?
Frequently asked questions
Can I have cataract surgery on the NHS?
Will I still need glasses afterwards?
Does the operation hurt?
How quickly will I see better?
Can cataracts come back?
Is it worth paying for laser or premium lenses?
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How we made this page
Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →
Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.
Sources & standards: NHS — Cataract surgery NICE — Cataracts in adults: management (NG77) RCOphth National Ophthalmology Database — cataract surgery report 1 (visual outcomes and complications, PubMed) RCOphth National Ophthalmology Database — report 17, risk factor model for posterior capsule rupture (Eye) Endophthalmitis after phacoemulsification cataract surgery 2015–2022 (PMC) RCOphth National Ophthalmology Database — posterior capsule opacification study (PMC)
Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.
Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.
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