Haywards Heath Hospital
Open your eyes to cataract surgery It is an unfortunate fact of life that, as we get older, our visual performance deteriorates and many of us will develop cataracts. But with new developments in modern lens implants available at Nuffield Health Haywards Heath Hospital, together with the high calibre of consultants practising at the hospital, this need not be a problem.
As an important part of our local community, Nuffield Health Haywards Heath Hospital continues to build Bruce McLeod Edward Hughes Paul Brittain Tony Casswell on its enviable reputation for high quality private healthcare. This February, the hospital celebrates its 20th anniversary in the town. The first ever operation performed at the hospital was in February 1993. Remarkably, both the conduct a thorough eye examination along with a general medical surgeon and the matron at that time still work at the hospital. assessment. “We need to establish how significant the problem Tony Casswell, General Ophthalmologist, was the surgeon involved is,” explains Tony, “because cataract surgery works very well in and the inaugural operation was cataract surgery. “That was 20 years patients who only have a cataract, but is less successful if there are ago. And while cataract surgery has achieved good results over many underlying problems, such as macular degeneration or glaucoma.” years, it has continued to evolve and the results are now getting The pros and cons of surgery also need to be considered. As even better,” he explains. “There have been some amazing Bruce points out, cataracts are not a disease, so not developments in eye surgery, which makes it such an everyone has to have surgery, “The decision has to enjoyable speciality to work in.” be based on the patient’s needs. If they are older, Tony’s colleague, Consultant Eye Surgeon don’t need to drive and can function quite well Bruce McLeod, explains why and how we with their level of vision, there may be no develop cataracts. “When we’re born, the need to operate.” lens of the eye is soft and can change shape The surgery involves removing the easily, allowing us to focus and see clearly. cataract from the eye before injecting a As we get older, the nature of the lens new lens. “20 years ago, when I performed protein changes becoming harder, which that first operation, it would have been means the eye lens doesn’t change shape usual for the patient to have a general so well. This is why many middle-aged anaesthetic or a local anaesthetic with people need to wear reading glasses. As that sedation,” explains Tony. “Today, unless the process progresses, much less light enters the patient requests otherwise, we use just a eye. Eventually, our sight becomes opaque and local anaesthetic, which means the patient is our vision dimmer.” awake, recovery times are shorter and they can The symptoms of cataracts and their severity go home the same day.” While many hospitals will vary from person to person, but if you are only offer day case surgery, the advantage of having experiencing a general diminishing of vision, blurred cataract surgery at Nuffield Health Haywards Heath vision, find the glare from headlights has become overwhelming, Hospital is that patients can stay in overnight if clinically necessary. or need increasingly brighter light for reading, you may have a The most exciting development of the last 20 years has been cataract. the type of lens implants now available. “The new lenses are really If this is the case, your first port of call is your optician, because good news for those whose eyes are suitable, as they work very well, in mild cases your sight can be improved with a new spectacles giving a range of vision without the need for glasses,” says Tony. prescription. If that isn’t the case, you will need to see an eye surgeon. Each case, however, has to be considered on an individual basis At Nuffield Health Haywards Heath Hospital, your surgeon will and success will be dependent upon the condition of the eye and
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SuSSex Living February 2013
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