Cataract surgery: Beat the waiting lists and get treatment within weeks at Vision Scotland
One of the biggest causes of reduced vision sight loss , in the UK can be cured with a 20 minutes per eye and no waiting list, right here in Scotland.
If you’ve ever suffered with cloudy vision caused by cataracts you’ll know how much it can affect daily life.
Blurred, foggy or filmy vision can make even the simplest things like watching TV, or reading, a challenge. It can stop you driving, affect your night vision, make you sensitive to light, make colours seem faded, or less vivid, and cataracts can leave you seeing glare or ‘halos’ around lights and can even cause double vision.
They are easy to spot – every eye test at the opticians will check for signs of cataracts. The sooner you have your cataracts treated, the less risk there is in surgery, meaning the sooner you can get back to living life to the fullest
Once diagnosed, opticians will then recommend patients get further diagnosis or surgery. But with NHS waiting lists in Scotland running at up to three years for cataract treatment, and some only do one eye at a time.
Vision Scotland offers immediate appointments and treatment within two weeks. Most treatments take just 20 minutes per eye- with numbing eye drops making it as pain-free and pleasant as possible. And around 80 percent of patients can get both eyes treated at once – bilateral cataract surgery – meaning just one visit.
And with surgeries in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and consultations available in Stirling and Galashiels, fantastic surgical and administrative staff dedicated to giving you the most comfortable and best quality service, and with finance options and payment plans, the treatment could be closer, more affordable, and less scary than you might think.
What are cataracts?
Cataracts are one of the most common eye conditions. The lens in your eye, which should be clear, becomes cloudy (in scientific terms the protens in the lens break down and clump up which scatters the light in an odd way, stopping a sharp image from reaching the retina.
Age is a huge factor – the older we get, the more chance of cataracts developing – but eye injuries, especially in contact sports, and certain medical conditions including diabetes are also factors.
What is cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery involves numbing your eyes with eye drops, before using an ultrasonic probe to take away the lens in your eye. A replacement synthetic lens is then gently fitted – which can be specifically designed for driving, reading and everyday life!
Is it worth having done?
Absolutely! Cataracts could mean you can’t drive, can’t read or watch TV comfortably and everyday tasks simply become more difficult. And why wait? The sooner you seek treatment the less damaged your lens will be, the easier it is to treat and replace, the less time you’re in theatre and the quicker you can get back to living a full life and enjoying your hobbies, sports, your free time, driving and socialising to the full.
Is it expensive?
Treatment for cataracts with Vision Scotland starts from £2,500 per eye. But there are a range of payment options or finance plans to help spread payments to make it more affordable.
Life-changing for patients
Vision Scotland has high praise from its patients, who describe the treatment as ‘life changing’ and say they can’t speak highly enough of all the staff.
Morag noticed a rapid deterioration in her vision – going from not needing glasses at all to being unable to read a menu or departures board so she went to Vision Scotland for a consultation and treatment. She said: “Everything was explained in great detail and I was made to feel very comfortable
“It’s over before you know it and it’s not painful… I was amazed it was over so quickly.
She says she got a glimpse of what life was like if you can’t see properly and was delighted to have her sight fully restored.
“It was a big relief, because it’s scary stuff.
“It’s life enhancing and life changing.”
Sandra had always had poor vision and needed a strong -17 prescription just to do everyday tasks. She admits she didn’t believe Vision Scotland would be able to change that, and was really worried something would go wrong.
“I was so anxious,” she says. “I was concerned I would go blind.” But her initial consultation left her reassured and the procedure has been a complete success – truly changing her life and the way she sees the world.
“I can see figures, I can see writing on their tee-shirts!” she says. “Colours are vibrant, clearer and brighter…. This has changed my life.”
She says Vision Scotland feel “like family” now.
Watch the incredible moment, just after the procedure, when she can see… it’s magical!
89-year-old Brian was facing a deteriorating quality of life because of cataracts, being unable to drive would mean he would lose his independence.
Surgery at Vision Scotland was pain free and says gave him “absolute clarity” just a couple of days after his procedure. He now has his sight, and his life back.
“The whole thing has been quite beyond belief,” he said. “The team were amazing; I have nothing but praise for them all.
Contact us
If you’d like to know more about cataract surgery with Vision Scotland visit the website here or simply call up and speak with one of the friendly and helpful staff, on 08008 20 20 80.