CATARACT SURGERY. Information Leaflet. Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. The Stockport Eye Centre. Your Health. Our Priority.

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1 CATARACT SURGERY Information Leaflet Stockport NHS Foundation Trust The Stockport Eye Centre Your Health. Our Priority.

2 Page 2 of 11 Introduction You may have been told that you have a cataract and asked to visit the Eye Doctor at the hospital. What is a cataract? Inside your eye is a lens which helps you see. If this lens is not clear it is called a cataract. You can have a cataract in one or both eyes. What problems can I expect? Your sight becomes blurred.

3 Page 3 of 11 You might not be able to see colours very well. You might not be able to see people very well. It might be hard or uncomfortable to see in bright light. You might bump into things or knock things over.

4 Page 4 of 11 What can be done about cataracts? Cataracts do not get better on their own. If you do not do anything about them they will usually get worse. If your cataract has just started growing the eye doctor may tell you that new glasses will help you to see better. If your sight cannot be fixed with new glasses you may need an operation to remove your cataract. Your eye doctor will talk to you and help you decide what is best for you. What is done when a cataract is removed? The cataract is removed through a small cut in the eye and an artificial lens implant is put into the eye. This is what you see through. Some measurements of your eye will need to be taken before the day of your operation so that the eye doctor can choose the best lens implant for your eye. Will I be able to see better after the operation? We hope you will be able to see better. If there are any other eye problems as well as the cataract, you may not see as well as somebody who has no other eye problems in their eye. Are there any problems with the operation? There can be problems with a cataract operation as with all operations. Serious or big problems do not happen very often. What happens next? You will be sent a letter telling you to go for your pre operation assessment on Stockport Eye Centre. Your nurse at this assessment will need to know how you will get to and from the hospital and who will be putting the eye drops in after the operation.

5 Page 5 of 11 Pre operation assessment The nurse will talk to you about the cataract operation and ask you about your health. Please bring your glasses with you and your most recent eye test from the optician. It is a good idea to go with a supporter who knows you well. You and your supporter can ask questions. Can I eat before the operation? You may have a light breakfast or lunch before the operation. If you have been told you are having an anaesthetic to put you to sleep you must not eat or drink anything for 6 hours prior to the operation. What should I bring on the operation day? Please wear a front fastening top or t-shirt top. Your tablets and eye drops. Your glasses.

6 Page 6 of 11 How long will I be in hospital for? You will be in hospital for up to a day usually. Do I have eye drops before the operation? The nurse will put some drops into your eye to make the pupil (black part) of your eye bigger. What happens during my operation? The operation will take place in an operating theatre. Your blood pressure will be checked and a tube may be put into your arm or hand. You may have eye drops to numb the eye. The operation takes about 30 minutes. What happens after the operation? You will be helped into bed if you have gone to sleep for the operation. If you did not go to sleep the nurse will get you a drink and something to eat.

7 Page 7 of 11 Your eye may have a pad or a plastic shield over it. What happens when I go home? You and your supporters need to follow the advice given by the eye doctor and the nurse. You will need to have plans in place for the eye drops to be put into your eye. Sometimes the district nurse will put the drops into your eye. It is important that you have these eye drops. They will need to be put in four or more times a day. When do I use the eye drops? Space the eye drops out. You may find it easier to put them in at meal times to remind you. If you have more than one bottle of eye drops leave a few minutes between them.

8 Page 8 of 11 The pad and plastic shield can be taken off the next day. You will be sent an outpatient appointment following your operation. This can be up to three weeks afterwards. This appointment will be in the Outpatient Clinic or Stockport Eye Centre. Sometimes you may be asked to come to see the eye doctor the day after your operation. You will need to see the optician for new glasses after the operation. Is it necessary to bathe the eye? The eye can be bathed if needed using boiled water that has cooled. Wipe the eye from the inner to the outer corner using a cotton wool pad. How long do I use the eye drops for? This can be different for each patient. The nurse or doctor will tell you when to stop. What should I look out for? - Pain which gets worse and is not helped by the pain relieving tablets. - Eye sight which is getting worse rather than better. - Sickness/feeling of sickness. - More redness and or blurring of the eye sight after the first day. If any of the above occurs please telephone the following numbers: Stockport Eye Centre Outpatients B Outpatient Appointments

9 Page 9 of 11 If outside the hours of 7.30am and 6pm please contact the Emergency department via the hospital switchboard Dos and Don ts You can watch the television and look at a book. You can wash your hair gently backwards. You can wear your glasses in the day and the plastic shield at night. You may need to rest for a few days. However you should not do sport or swimming until the eye doctor tells you it is ok to do so. It is important that you do not Rub or touch the eye Bend over or lift heavy things

10 Page 10 of 11 The Stockport Eye Centre Team

11 Page 11 of 11 If you would like this leaflet in a different format, for example, in large print, or on audiotape, or for people with learning disabilities, please contact: Patient and Customer Services, Poplar Suite, Stepping Hill Hospital. Tel: Information Leaflet8. PCS@stockport.nhs.uk. Our smoke free policy Smoking is not allowed anywhere on our sites. Please read our leaflet 'Policy on Smoke Free NHS Premises' to find out more. Leaflet number OPT21 Publication date June 2013 Review date June 2016 Department Ophthalmology Location Stepping Hill Hospital