Cataract Surgery Patient Journey Map

Cataract SurgeryPatient Journey Map

Getting an appointment - - - 2

Getting an appointment

We’ve put together a journey map to show the different stages from diagnosis through to treatment and what you can expect at each stage. You may be right at the beginning of your journey awaiting diagnosis, or somewhere in the middle and wondering what comes next. We hope you find this useful – please call us 0330 058 4280 if you would like any more information about what to expect on your patient journey.

Getting a diagnosis - If you’re having trouble with your eyes and/or sight then you need to get your eyes checked as soon as possible by your local optician, who will examine your eyes and check the quality of your vision. The optician will be able to refer you to SpaMedica or another specialist, depending on what treatment or surgery you require.

Getting a referral - You need to let your optician or GP know which healthcare provider and hospital you would like to go to and they will then send a referral to your chosen provider. You should hear back from your provider within two to three weeks following your referral. If you have not heard anything then you can contact the person who referred you, this will be your optician or GP.

GOOD TO KNOW...As an NHS patient you can choose where you get treated. Think about what’s important for you – eg time to treatment, distance to hospital, consultant experience, quality of hospital.

98% of our patients choose SpaMedica because of our short waiting times – usually 3-4 weeks for surgery/treatment. View our ratings and reviews from patients for each of our hospitals on NHS Choices.

GOOD TO KNOW...

Our SpaMedica Referrals Team calls within 2-3 days of receiving a referral. We talk through the next steps, answer any

questions and you can choose a suitable appointment date.

If you have chosen SpaMedica as your preferred provider and are having difficulty getting an appointment at one of our hospitals please call your local CCG and let them know. You can find their contact details on the NHS Choices website.

Booking an appointment - Your chosen hospital/provider will contact you by phon-ing or sending a letter to book an appoint-ment. You will receive written confirmation of your appointment date and information on cataract surgery.

We also provide a comprehensive patient information booklet which includes what you can expect.

Your pre-operative Assessment - - - 3

Your pre-operative Assessment

The purpose of your first appointment at the hospital is to run a thorough check on your eyes to confirm that cataract surgery is the best treatment for you. Several eye tests will be conducted, with your appointment lasting about 1.5 to 2 hours (which includes about 40 minutes to allow your pupils to dilate).

Dilating the eyes causes blurred vision and sensitivity to light, so you won’t be able to drive; so it’s important to make sure you organise a lift or arrange transport to/from the hospital.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about your surgery with the nurse and/or optometrist at your appointment.

You’ll need to bring your current glasses, a list of your current medications, record book (if you’re diabetic or taking Warfarin) and a contact number of a relative/friend. If you wear contact lenses these should not be worn for at least 48 hours before your appointment.

So what will happen at this appointment?

Welcome – You will be warmly welcomed and signed in by one of our friendly reception team members and directed to the assessment clinic. You will be seated in our clinic reception and offered complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits.

Vision test – The first test we conduct is to check your vision, this is done using a chart, the same as used in opticians, where we ask you to read letters from the top line downwards on the chart.

Eye pressure – It is important to test the pressure in each eye to check eye health and test for glaucoma. Anaesthetic drops will be placed in each eye before the eye pressure test, which is conducted using a handheld meter, which gently touches the surface of the eye and provides a digital readout of the pressure in the eye.

Pupils dilated – Drops are placed in each eye to dilate the pupils (this makes your pupils larger, so we can examine the eye). It usually takes about 30 to 40 minutes for your pupils to dilate and then we can examine your eyes. Dilating your pupils affects your vision and sensitivity to light for up to four hours, so you will not be able to drive yourself home after the appointment. And, of course, you will be offered more complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits while we wait for your pupils to dilate.

GOOD TO KNOW...

SpaMedica provides free transport for some patients, based on your

location and other criteria – if you’re struggling to find transport please speak to a member of our

Referrals team to see if you qualify for free transport.

Your pre-operative Assessment - - - 4

Eye diagnostics – There are two diagnostic tests conducted at all pre-operative assessments – the first takes a magnified colour photo of your eye and the second is called a biometry test, which measures the shape and size of the eye. The biometry test reading allows us to calculate the power of the intraocular lens (IOL) required for your cataract surgery.

Additional tests (if required) – About 10% of patients require additional eye tests – for example, for those with pre-existing eye conditions or if you’ve had previous eye surgery or laser treatment. These include imaging tests; one takes a cross-section image of your retina and the other measures and checks the shape of your cornea. Two other tests that may be required are the A-scan and B-scan, these provide data on the length of your eye and provide a two dimensional, cross section of your eye.

General healthcare – One of our friendly SpaMedica nurses will conduct a routine blood pressure test and temperature check. They will discuss your current health and what regular medication you are taking (both prescription and non-prescription). They will also talk through your cataract surgery and what will happen on the day of your operation, explaining everything thoroughly and answering any questions you may have.

Your pre-operative Assessment

Optometrist check – All your test results are checked and analysed by a SpaMedica optometrist (eye healthcare specialist). They check to make sure that cataract surgery is suitable for you and will discuss the benefits and risks of surgery. If both your eyes require surgery the optometrist will talk about which eye we would recommend to operate on first, this is usually the eye with the worst vision, but the optometrist will discuss this fully with you to find out the best option for you.

Consent – We take time to discuss with each of our patients the details of your cataract surgery, the benefits that you should get from the surgery and also the risks of surgery. We’ll check that you understand everything and ask you to sign a consent form, which lets us know you give your permission for your surgery to go ahead. Please let us know if you have a lasting power of attorney (LPA) or require support for giving consent.

Booking your surgery – The final stage of your appointment is to book a date for your surgery. Our receptionist will give you available dates and you can choose a time and date to suit you – this is usually about two weeks following your appointment.

Your Cataract Surgery - - - 5

It is very normal to be apprehensive about your surgery, but please be reassured the SpaMedica team are very caring and extremely friendly and will support you through every step on your surgery day; they’ll put your mind at ease, explain what is happening at each stage, discuss any concerns you may have and make you as comfortable as possible throughout your stay.

Before you look at the details of your cataract surgery there are two very important things you need to know that should help put your mind at rest:

a. There are NO needles – all the anaesthetic and medication for your eyes is administered by eye drops and a tiny pellet is used to dilate the pupils, so there is no need to worry about any needles and injections.

b. Average time for cataract surgery is 5 to 10 minutes – you will be at the hospital on the day of your surgery for about 2 to 3 hours, but the actual surgery itself usually lasts about 10 minutes.

Your Cataract Surgery

Advice and recommendations for your surgery day

The time given for your appointment is the time you should arrive at the hospital and NOT the time of your surgery – arriving earlier will mean a longer wait for you.

Please arrange transport to and from the hospital – your eyes will be dilated for surgery and this causes blurred vision and sensitivity to light, so you won’t be able to drive. SpaMedica provides free transport for some patients, based on your location and other criteria – if you’re struggling to find transport please speak to a member of our Referrals Team to see if you qualify for free transport.

We recommend eating a light meal before you arrive at the hospital.

Please take all your medications as normal, unless we have advised you not to.Wear comfortable and loose fitting clothing – you will not need to wear a hospital gown.

We recommend you wear dark coloured clothing – we use iodine during surgery and this can sometimes run down your neck and may stain lighter clothing.Remove all make-up before arriving at the hospital.

Please try not to bring any valuables with you – we have lockers and areas for you to leave bags etc during surgery, but we cannot guarantee their safety. All the SpaMedica team are here to support you, make you feel at ease and make your surgery day as stress-free as possible.

GOOD TO KNOW...

Cataract surgery is a relatively

straightforward operation and is the

most common operation performed in

the UK today.

SpaMedica is the 2nd largest provider

of cataract surgeries and in 2017 we

performed more than 15,000 cataract

surgeries.


Welcome – You will receive a warm welcome from one of our friendly reception team. They will check you in and take you to the patient waiting area. You will be offered complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits while you wait.

Arranging pick up – Our reception team will ask for contact details of the person who will be picking you up after your surgery and we will give them a ring when you’re ready to go home. Your family/friends/carer is also welcome to wait in the reception area once you are called through to the surgical ward – this is normally about a 2 to 3 hour wait.

Nurse pre-surgery check – You’ll be called through to the surgical ward where you’ll be greeted by one of our skilled and friendly nurses, who will spend about 5 to 10 minutes with you. They’ll take your blood pressure and temperature and check all is OK for your surgery to go ahead. An arrow will be drawn above the eye you are having surgery on – don’t worry, this is standard procedure for all surgical operations. The nurse will make sure you understand what will happen next and you can ask any questions you may have to make sure you are happy with everything. A tiny pellet is placed in your eye – this is used to dilate your pupil. If required (most patients do not need this) the nurse will provide sedative medication at this time.

Surgical ward – It is important for your pupil to be fully dilated and so there will be up to 45 minutes waiting time to allow the pupil to dilate. The nurse will then show you through to the surgical ward.


Pre-surgery – One of the surgery team will call you through to the surgery preparation room to get you ready for surgery. The nurse will remove the small pellet from your eye and administer anaesthetic drops to numb your eye. We give you some pieces of protective clothing to pop on before surgery – a cap and shoe covers.

If you wear a hearing aid we ask that this is removed at this point and the nursing team will look after this during your surgery.

Consultant pre-surgery check – Your consultant ophthalmologist will check your details with you, discuss your surgery and what will happen next. You can ask the consultant any questions and they will make sure you’re OK with everything before taking you through to surgery.

Your surgery

The nursing team will take you through to the operating theatre and help get you comfortable on the operating bed.

A sterile sheet is placed across your head and chest; this does not lie directly on your face, but is held above your face and body using a bar fixed to the operating bed. The sterile sheet sticks to the skin around the eye to create a sterile zone.

GOOD TO KNOW...

The area around your eye will be cleaned using an iodine based solution;

this can stain light clothing, so we advise you to wear dark clothing on

your surgery day.


The surgeon uses a microscope with a bright light, which magnifies your eye. You will be looking at this light during the surgery and this is all you will see.

Obviously, we will ask you to keep still during the surgery and our patients don’t find this an issue. If you need to move, to sneeze for example, that’s fine, just let the surgeon know – just think of it like the dentist where you have to keep your head still for a few minutes.

It’s important to keep the eye moist, during surgery water is used to irrigate the eye and this can run down your face onto your ear or neck. This is why we ask that hearing aids are removed prior to surgery.

The procedure lasts, on average, about 5 to 10 minutes, and most of our patients are (pleasantly) surprised when our surgeon lets them know it’s finished!We have asked hundreds of patients to describe what they feel or experience during surgery and the feedback is that they just see a very bright light or bright colours and don’t feel anything. If you experience any strange or unpleasant sensations please let your surgeon know and they will give you some more anaesthetic drops.

The sheet is removed very carefully from around your eye at the end of the surgery

– this feels similar to a sticky plaster being taken off, so there is a small amount of discomfort, but this only lasts for a second or two.

A clear shield will be taped over your eye to help protect the eye against infection.

Surgery all done – take a deep breath and smile! One of the nursing team will support you as you get off the operating table and take you through for your post-op check.

Post-surgery check – you’ll spend 5 minutes with one of our nurses following surgery to check you are OK and talk you through your post-surgery care at home. You’ll be given a booklet with lots of useful information on dos and don’ts and advice about what to do when you’re back home. A very important part of post-surgery care is your eye drops – these help to prevent infection and reduce any swelling. The nurse will give you a bottle of eye drops to take with you, these are to be used four times a day over three weeks following surgery, but NOT on the day of surgery.

Recovery time – you’ll need about 10 to 30 minutes to rest back in reception. We recommend taking advantage of the hot drinks and biscuits on offer.

Time to go home – we’ll call the contact you gave us to organise a lift home, if they’re not already waiting for you. If you have organised a lift on our SpaMedica bus, you’ll be booked in with the driver, who will come and get you when the bus is ready to go.


GOOD TO KNOW...

Many of our patients have said that they found cataract surgery a much better

experience than going to their dentists!

Post Surgery Care - - - 8

There are some common symptoms following surgery, such as blurred vision, a scratchy feeling in the eye, your eye watering a little, a dull ache over the eyes and sensitivity to bright light – these are all normal and shouldn’t last more than a couple of days. If you experience any aches or pain after surgery we suggest you take painkillers, such as paracetamol, using the recommended dosage. You should avoid aspirin, unless this has been prescribed for you. You can wear sunglasses the day after surgery for light sensitivity, make sure these are cleaned well before wearing.

Post Surgery Care

The most important thing following surgery is to protect the eye from infection and so it is important not to rub or touch the eye. The eye shield should stay on for the day and night following surgery and it is designed for you to be able to sleep with it on. This can be removed in the morning, the day after surgery, but should be put back on before you go to sleep for the next seven nights, using micropore tape. Remember to wash your hands every time you remove and replace your shield.

Begin using your eye drops on the day after your surgery, as prescribed by SpaMedica.

If your eye is sticky and your vision is blurred the day after surgery, or later on, then you can bathe your eye. You will have been given a pack of sterile swabs to use for bathing the eye. You should boil some water (this provides sterilisation), allow this to cool and then bathe the eye with the swab and water. Make sure you wash your hands before and after bathing your eye. Soak the swab in the cooled water and wipe once across your eye while it is closed. Repeat with a new swab if needed.

If you are coming back to SpaMedica for your post-op appointment you will have chosen a date and time before you left on your surgery day. If your optician is a member of the SpaMedica accredited partner scheme then you should contact them to book an appointment for about 4 to 6 weeks after your surgery.

GOOD TO KNOW...

Post Surgery DOs and DON’Ts

The main thing to consider following

eye surgery is to reduce the risk of

infection in the eye, so it’s important

to avoid any environments or activities

that would increase this risk eg dusty

gardens and swimming pools.

Urgent post-care – If you experience

any of the following symptoms

following surgery then please call our

emergency helpline on 0161 838 0883

– if you have a general enquiry please

call 0161 838 0870, the helpline is for

emergencies only.

• Throbbing pain in or around your eye

• A severe headache with, or without,

nausea and/or vomiting

• Progressive deterioration of vision in

your eye or loss of vision

• Increasing redness in your eye with

severe pain, sticky discharge or eyelidswelling


Glasses – For most patients your vision will improve following surgery and you will require a new prescription. If you require surgery on one eye only, then you can get new lenses once you’ve had your 4 week post-operative visit. If you’re having surgery on both eyes then we recommend you visit your optician after your first eye surgery – they can make a temporary change to your glasses eg pop out lens (they’ll usually do this for free) or replace with non-prescription lens (there may be a small charge) if needed. You should return to see your optician to get a new prescription for your glasses when your surgery is completed for both eyes, this could be at your 4-week post-operative visit if this is with your optician or following your post-op visit to SpaMedica.

Driving – It takes a few days for your eyesight to adjust, so you should wait at least 48 hours after surgery before driving or operating machinery. Please note that you cannot drive until your eyesight meets the legal driving requirement.

Working – If your workplace is dust free with no physical activity then you can return to work one week after surgery. If this is not the case then you should wait two weeks before returning to work. Please let us know if you require a doctor’s ‘fit’ note to give to your employer if you need to be off work longer than one week.

Child care – It’s OK for you to look after children following surgery, UNLESS you were given a sedative before surgery, in which case you should not look after children alone for at least 24 hours.

Glaucoma – If you have glaucoma continue to take your glaucoma drops as normal, unless you have been told otherwise. Please use a new, unopened bottle following surgery and leave an interval of at least 5 minutes between the two different types of eye drops – it doesn’t matter which order you put these in.

Lubricating eye drops – If you experience overly dry or gritty eyes it’s OK to use lubricating eye drops, which you can get from your optician or chemist. Leave at least 5 minutes between using the two different types of drops.

Dry eye drops – If you’re experiencing redness, grittiness and/or soreness it may be helpful to use ‘artificial’ tear drops, available from your local pharmacy, types of these include hypromellose, carbomer or polyvinyl alcohol. Leave at least 5 minutes between using the two different types of drops. Please use a new, unopened bottle.

Make-up – You should NOT wear any eye make-up for 3 weeks.

Showers and baths – It’s OK to have showers and/or baths, keep your eyes closed when washing your face and remember not to rub your eye.

Hair washing – It’s OK to wash your hair 24 hours after surgery, use a mild or baby shampoo, avoid getting soap in your eye and don’t rub the eye.

Post Surgery Care


Cooking – If you’re feeling OK you can do everyday activities, like cooking, when you get home.

Reading/watching TV – It’s OK for you to read and watch television following surgery – your vision may be a little blurred for the first few days.

Sport and exercise – You should aim to keep any sport activities or exercise to a minimum for the two weeks following surgery – it’s OK to resume these after this time.

Swimming – Please do NOT swim until after you have attended your post-operative appointment and your eye has been checked. We recommend you wear goggles if swimming within one month of surgery.

Gardening – You should NOT garden until after your post-operative appointment.

Flying – It is OK to fly one week following surgery, but we would recommend you wait if you can until after your post-operative appointment.

Alcohol – It’s OK to drink alcohol following surgery, UNLESS you had a sedative for surgery, in which case you should wait 24 hours before having a drink.

Bending – It’s OK to bend down for a short while eg while tying shoes, but prolonged periods of bending should be avoided.

Post Surgery Care

Your post-operative appointment - - - 11

Your post-op assessment will be booked at either your optician’s practice or a SpaMedica clinic:

- This will be scheduled two weeks after your first eye surgery, if you are having surgery on both eyes.

- Your post-op assessment will be scheduled for 4 to 6 weeks after surgery if you are having surgery on one eye only or after your second eye surgery.

The purpose of your post-op appointment is to check your eye health and test your vision following surgery. Several eye tests will be conducted, with your appointment lasting about 1.5 to 2 hours (which includes 40 minutes to allow your pupils to dilate).

Dilating the eyes causes blurred vision and sensitivity to light, so you won’t be able to drive; it’s important to organise a lift or arrange transport to/from the hospital. SpaMedica provides free transport for some patients, based on your location and other criteria – if you’re struggling to find transport please speak to a member of our team.

So what will happen at this appointment?

Welcome – You will be welcomed and signed in by one of our friendly reception team members and directed to the assessment clinic. You will be seated in our clinic reception and offered complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits.

Your post-operative appointment

Vision test – The first test we conduct is to check your vision, which should have improved following surgery. This is done using a chart, the same as used in opticians, where we ask you to read letters from the top line downwards on the chart.

Eye pressure – It is important to test the pressure in each eye to check eye health and test for glaucoma. Anaesthetic drops will be placed in each eye before the eye pressure test, which is conducted using a handheld meter, which gently touches the surface of the eye and provides a digital readout of the pressure in the eye.

Pupils dilated – Drops are placed in each eye to dilate the pupils (this makes your pupils larger, so we can examine the eye). It usually takes about 30 to 40 minutes for your pupils to dilate and then we can examine your eyes. Dilating your pupils affects your vision and sensitivity to light for up to four hours, so you will not be able to drive yourself home after the appointment. And, of course, you will be offered more complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits while we wait for your pupils to dilate.

Eye diagnostics – There are two diagnostic tests conducted at post-operative assessments – the first takes a magnified colour photo of your eye and the second is called a biometry test, which measures the shape and size of the eye.

Your post-operative appointment - - - 12

Optometrist check – All your test results are checked and analysed by a SpaMedica optometrist (eye healthcare specialist). They check to make sure the health of the eye is good and everything is OK following surgery. They’ll let you know the results of your surgery and confirm next steps.

Second eye surgery – If you’re having surgery on your second eye you will book a date for your surgery at this appointment. Our receptionist will give you available dates and you can choose a time and date to suit you – this is usually about two weeks following your post-op appointment.

Final surgery – If this is your final post-op appointment (for surgery on one or two eyes), and the optometrist confirms all is OK, you will be ‘officially’ discharged from SpaMedica. A few patients may require a follow-up appointment in a couple of weeks and this will be booked in for you.

Your post-operative appointment

Time to enjoy a clearer, brighter future

You’re all done and should be experiencing improved vision and colours you’re seeing should be back to normal.

Many patients describe their cataract surgery experience as a positive and ‘life-changing’ experience; their vision is greatly improved, it’s helped with their confidence and independence and they are enjoying the vibrant colours that they can now see clearly.

SpaMedica Head OfficeSpaMedica House, 43 Churchgate, Bolton BL1 1HU

T: 0330 058 4280E: [email protected]: www.spamedica.co.uk

Please contact SpaMedica if you have any concerns or queries relating to you eye.

This number is available 24 hours per day, 365 days of the year for emergencies, and from 9am - 5pm for general enquiries

GOOD TO KNOW...

Cataract Surgery Patient Journey Map

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