While the majority of patients are extremely happy with their results, please remember that nothing works better than your natural lens. Artificial lenses are extremely good but not perfect. Mr. Desai urges patients to respect the limits of what technology allows.
If this complication were to occur, safety would be prioritized, and in most cases, a multifocal IOL insertion would not be possible. Mr. Desai’s personal risk with RLE is less than 1:1000.
A very small risk of the support to the lens breaking and the lens falling to the back of the eye. This would require further surgery. The risk with cataract surgery is approximately 1:1000.
There’s a 1:2000 to 1:10,000 risk of severe visual loss, including infections such as endophthalmitis. This risk has dramatically decreased in recent years. Seek urgent attention if you experience worsening pain and vision loss in the first 3-4 days post-surgery.
Dry, gritty sensation is common after surgery and usually resolves in a few months. Rarely, it can unmask undiagnosed dry eyes, requiring lubricating drops.
As the jelly-like material behind the lens changes with age or surgery, floaters or flashes of light can occur. They are common but should be checked if they worsen.
The risk of retinal detachment is higher for patients under 60, those who are short-sighted, or male. If you notice sudden flashes of light or new floaters, seek urgent attention within 24 hours.
The tissue behind the lens may become thickened over time, affecting vision. If this occurs, a YAG laser treatment will be required to clear the obstruction. The risk of this happening is around 20% over 5 years.
More common with multifocal IOLs, glare and halos can occur, especially at night due to the structure of the lenses. The brain adapts to this, but in some cases, it may be disabling.
Residual refractive errors can occur in almost every patient. Approximately 7% of patients may require further laser vision correction, piggy-back lenses, or IOL exchange.
A rare complication that can occur weeks after surgery, causing vision distortion. The odds of this happening are 1-2%, and it typically resolves with treatment.
Short-sighted individuals may experience disappointment with near vision post-surgery, as magnification is lost after surgery.
For those who need surgery only for reading vision, understand that the priority is to fix distance vision, with modifications for near vision.
Patients with significant astigmatism may require glasses for near vision after surgery, as the extended depth of focus IOLs do not offer as much near vision as standard multifocals.
While most patients are extremely pleased, variability is to be expected, and the goal is to provide the best overall vision, not perfect vision.
The surgery won’t eliminate any previous eye conditions (other than cataracts) or prevent future eye diseases. Annual check-ups with your optometrist are crucial.
The eyes are one of the most sensitive organs of the body and is one of the most precious. It is natural to be anxious before any surgery, but the operation averages only 7 minutes in Mr Desai’s care and almost everyone
after the operation says it was nothing to be worried about.
People have surgery for all sorts of reasons and the decision-making is very different for different individuals. There are dentists who want the operation as they find it difficult to wear protective glasses; there are divers who struggle to put on their gear on top of glasses; there are mountain climbers who, from a safety perspective, worry that if the spectacles fall off they are not able to see close objects. A large number of car mechanics/ plumbers/ brick layers/snooker players etc find the operation invaluable as the spectacles are not suitable when looking above the horizon. There are people who want it for convenience, some want it for vanity and are happy to admit it!
Mr Desai has a high need for precision of vision to get the best outcome for patients. Surgery is predominantly for overall vision are not for the precision that Mr Desai requires. Mr Desai has been wearing spectacles since he was 13 and does not want an operation on his eye.
The operation is on your natural lens and we cant fix one without the other. In fact when multifocal lenses are used the distance vision is somewhat compromised as the total light energy going into the eye is distributed over a larger area. Please see point 15 above.
We are using technology to get something which nature doesn’t allow us to get. While the majority of patients are extremely pleased with results of the operation, it is important to remember that we cannot alter risk, and it is quite helpful to think backwards about the choices available. The options are in order of risk: low to high are:
The anaesthetic drops take away the sensation of any sharp pain. The sensation of touch and pressure is not taken away. There is a lot of water/saline which is used during surgery. You do not see any instruments, what you do notice is a lot of colours and shapes, people say it is like looking through a kaleidoscope. There are normally 3 light sources in the microscope, you need to look towards the centre of the light. Some describe it like the shape of mickey mouse!
Immediately after the operation the vision is extremely variable as the pupils have been dilated, there is bright light that affects vision and several other factors. However, it is not uncommon to see patients looking at their phones and texting. It would be unusual not to have navigational vision after the operation.
In an informal audit conducted by Mr Desai (unpublished) almost 95% of patients met visual standards required for driving the next day morning itself. However, driving is a legal obligation and relies on self-certification. Mr Desai would encourage you to read the DVLA rules and self-certify. Please seek the help of the optometrist on your follow up visit if unsure.
Mr Desai believe the basic principles as follows: The highest risk is the first 3 to 5 days especially with infection. The wound should have formed a reasonable seal by day 7 and a very good seal by 4 to 6 weeks. Based on basic principles it would make sense to take things lightly for a week and go for exercises which jog the upper body only after 4 to 6 weeks.
Mr Desai doesn’t undertake laser vision correction surgery and the risk of further laser vision correction enhancement is in the order of approx. 7% patients. please check the T&C documents.
The operation is exactly the same as a cataract operation and we do cataract surgery even in babies a few months old. The lens material is similar. While we cannot guarantee anything, it is almost certain that the lens will last for the rest of your life. Multifocal Lenses have been used in young babies and children with cataract as well.
After the age of 40 the natural lens becomes more and more rigid. This is the major reason that a frequent change of spectacles is needed. As the operation tackles the lens itself, theoretically the refraction should stabilise for the rest of your life, but obviously does not alter the normal ageing and health related changes. You must maintain yearly appointments with the optometrist for the above reason.
There is no evidence to restrict alcohol after surgery. The immediate 3-4 days after operation, the corneal wound is the weakest and you want to avoid anything which can lead to any form of trauma or infection. If you had a sedative, please discuss with the anaesthetist.
It is best to avoid a head shower for a week and avoid swimming for about 4-6 weeks.
Unless otherwise specified, use the drops 4 times a day for 2 weeks and then twice a day till they run out. If the eye becomes sensitive to light, you might need to use the steroid eye drops for longer periods.
There is a clear plastic shield to protect the eyes from accidents. You need to leave the shield on for 24 hours, and then every night for 5 days.
You can boil some water with cotton and let it cool down, this sterilised cotton can be used to wipe the eyes over a closed lid and to keep it clean.
While the majority of patients are extremely happy with their results, please remember that nothing works better than your natural lens. Artificial lenses are extremely good but not perfect. Mr. Desai urges patients to respect the limits of what technology allows.
If this complication were to occur, safety would be prioritized, and in most cases, a multifocal IOL insertion would not be possible. Mr. Desai’s personal risk with RLE is less than 1:1000.
A very small risk of the support to the lens breaking and the lens falling to the back of the eye. This would require further surgery. The risk with cataract surgery is approximately 1:1000.
There’s a 1:2000 to 1:10,000 risk of severe visual loss, including infections such as endophthalmitis. This risk has dramatically decreased in recent years. Seek urgent attention if you experience worsening pain and vision loss in the first 3-4 days post-surgery.
Dry, gritty sensation is common after surgery and usually resolves in a few months. Rarely, it can unmask undiagnosed dry eyes, requiring lubricating drops.
As the jelly-like material behind the lens changes with age or surgery, floaters or flashes of light can occur. They are common but should be checked if they worsen.
The risk of retinal detachment is higher for patients under 60, those who are short-sighted, or male. If you notice sudden flashes of light or new floaters, seek urgent attention within 24 hours.
The tissue behind the lens may become thickened over time, affecting vision. If this occurs, a YAG laser treatment will be required to clear the obstruction. The risk of this happening is around 20% over 5 years.
More common with multifocal IOLs, glare and halos can occur, especially at night due to the structure of the lenses. The brain adapts to this, but in some cases, it may be disabling.
Residual refractive errors can occur in almost every patient. Approximately 7% of patients may require further laser vision correction, piggy-back lenses, or IOL exchange.
A rare complication that can occur weeks after surgery, causing vision distortion. The odds of this happening are 1-2%, and it typically resolves with treatment.
Inflammation caused by the body’s immune response to the lens material. This is typically controlled with steroid eye drops.
Less than 1% of patients who have multifocal IOLs may want to replace them with monofocal IOLs. This process is risky, and only a few surgeons perform it.
Short-sighted individuals may experience disappointment with near vision post-surgery, as magnification is lost after surgery.
For those who need surgery only for reading vision, understand that the priority is to fix distance vision, with modifications for near vision.
Patients with significant astigmatism may require glasses for near vision after surgery, as the extended depth of focus IOLs do not offer as much near vision as standard multifocals.
While most patients are extremely pleased, variability is to be expected, and the goal is to provide the best overall vision, not perfect vision.
The surgery won’t eliminate any previous eye conditions (other than cataracts) or prevent future eye diseases. Annual check-ups with your optometrist are crucial.
If you have had laser vision correction or a history of lazy eye/squint, inform Mr. Desai before surgery.
If financial hardship is preventing you from accessing treatment, please speak to Mr. Desai’s secretary in confidence.
In line with GMC guidance, surgical fees cannot be negotiated, as this could be seen as an inducement to treatment. However, if you are experiencing genuine financial difficulty and do not wish to use monthly finance options, Mr. Desai is willing to offer care on a non-profit basis: £40 to cover hospital and administration costs, and £300 per eye for surgery to cover indemnity and fixed expenses.
If financial hardship is preventing you from accessing treatment, please speak to Mr. Desai’s secretary in confidence.
Important Note:
There is no link between the quality of clinical care and financial costs—every patient receives the same high standard of treatment.
Risks
MBBS; DOMS; MRCOphth; MRCSEd; FRCSEd; FRCOphth; FEBO.
While the majority of patients are extremely happy with their results, please remember that nothing works better than your natural lens. Artificial lenses are extremely good but not perfect. Mr. Desai urges patients to respect the limits of what technology allows.
If this complication were to occur, safety would be prioritized, and in most cases, a multifocal IOL insertion would not be possible. Mr. Desai’s personal risk with RLE is less than 1:1000.
A very small risk of the support to the lens breaking and the lens falling to the back of the eye. This would require further surgery. The risk with cataract surgery is approximately 1:1000.
There’s a 1:2000 to 1:10,000 risk of severe visual loss, including infections such as endophthalmitis. This risk has dramatically decreased in recent years. Seek urgent attention if you experience worsening pain and vision loss in the first 3-4 days post-surgery.
Dry, gritty sensation is common after surgery and usually resolves in a few months. Rarely, it can unmask undiagnosed dry eyes, requiring lubricating drops.
As the jelly-like material behind the lens changes with age or surgery, floaters or flashes of light can occur. They are common but should be checked if they worsen.
The risk of retinal detachment is higher for patients under 60, those who are short-sighted, or male. If you notice sudden flashes of light or new floaters, seek urgent attention within 24 hours.
The tissue behind the lens may become thickened over time, affecting vision. If this occurs, a YAG laser treatment will be required to clear the obstruction. The risk of this happening is around 20% over 5 years.
More common with multifocal IOLs, glare and halos can occur, especially at night due to the structure of the lenses. The brain adapts to this, but in some cases, it may be disabling.
Residual refractive errors can occur in almost every patient. Approximately 7% of patients may require further laser vision correction, piggy-back lenses, or IOL exchange.
A rare complication that can occur weeks after surgery, causing vision distortion. The odds of this happening are 1-2%, and it typically resolves with treatment.
Inflammation caused by the body’s immune response to the lens material. This is typically controlled with steroid eye drops.
Less than 1% of patients who have multifocal IOLs may want to replace them with monofocal IOLs. This process is risky, and only a few surgeons perform it.
Short-sighted individuals may experience disappointment with near vision post-surgery, as magnification is lost after surgery.
For those who need surgery only for reading vision, understand that the priority is to fix distance vision, with modifications for near vision.
Patients with significant astigmatism may require glasses for near vision after surgery, as the extended depth of focus IOLs do not offer as much near vision as standard multifocals.
While most patients are extremely pleased, variability is to be expected, and the goal is to provide the best overall vision, not perfect vision.
The surgery won’t eliminate any previous eye conditions (other than cataracts) or prevent future eye diseases. Annual check-ups with your optometrist are crucial.
If you have had laser vision correction or a history of lazy eye/squint, inform Mr. Desai before surgery.
If financial hardship is preventing you from accessing treatment, please speak to Mr. Desai’s secretary in confidence.
In line with GMC guidance, surgical fees cannot be negotiated, as this could be seen as an inducement to treatment. However, if you are experiencing genuine financial difficulty and do not wish to use monthly finance options, Mr. Desai is willing to offer care on a non-profit basis: £40 to cover hospital and administration costs, and £300 per eye for surgery to cover indemnity and fixed expenses.
If financial hardship is preventing you from accessing treatment, please speak to Mr. Desai’s secretary in confidence.
Important Note:
There is no link between the quality of clinical care and financial costs—every patient receives the same high standard of treatment.
People have surgery for all sorts of reasons and the decision-making is very different for different individuals. There are dentists who want the operation as they find it difficult to wear protective glasses; there are divers who struggle to put on their gear on top of glasses; there are mountain climbers who, from a safety perspective, worry that if the spectacles fall off they are not able to see close objects. A large number of car mechanics/ plumbers/ brick layers/snooker players etc find the operation invaluable as the spectacles are not suitable when looking above the horizon. There are people who want it for convenience, some want it for vanity and are happy
to admit it!
Mr Desai has a high need for precision of vision to get the best outcome for patients. Surgery is predominantly for overall vision are not for the precision that Mr Desai requires. Mr Desai has been wearing spectacles since he
was 13 and does not want an operation on his eye.
The operation is on your natural lens and we cant fix one without the other. In fact when multifocal lenses are
used the distance vision is somewhat compromised as the total light energy going into the eye is distributed over
a larger area. Please see point 15 above.
We are using technology to get something which nature doesn’t allow us to get. While the majority of patients
are extremely pleased with results of the operation, it is important to remember that we cannot alter risk, and it
is quite helpful to think backwards about the choices available. The options are in order of risk: low to high are:
The anaesthetic drops take away the sensation of any sharp pain. The sensation of touch and pressure is not
taken away. There is a lot of water/saline which is used during surgery. You do not see any instruments, what you do notice is a lot of colours and shapes, people say it is like looking through a kaleidoscope. There are normally 3 light sources in the microscope, you need to look towards the centre of the light. Some describe it like the shape of mickey mouse!
The eyes are one of the most sensitive organs of the body and is one of the most precious. It is natural to be
anxious before any surgery, but the operation averages only 7 minutes in Mr Desai’s care and almost everyone
after the operation says it was nothing to be worried about.
Immediately after the operation the vision is extremely variable as the pupils have been dilated, there is bright light that affects vision and several other factors. However, it is not uncommon to see patients looking at their phones and texting. It would be unusual not to have navigational vision after the operation.
In an informal audit conducted by Mr Desai (unpublished) almost 95% of patients met visual standards required
for driving the next day morning itself. However, driving is a legal obligation and relies on self-certification. Mr
Desai would encourage you to read the DVLA rules and self-certify. Please seek the help of the optometrist on
your follow up visit if unsure.
Mr Desai believe the basic principles as follows: The highest risk is the first 3 to 5 days especially with infection.
The wound should have formed a reasonable seal by day 7 and a very good seal by 4 to 6 weeks.
Based on basic principles it would make sense to take things lightly for a week and go for exercises which jog the
upper body only after 4 to 6 weeks.
Mr Desai doesn’t undertake laser vision correction surgery and the risk of further laser vision correction enhancement is in the order of approx. 7% patients. please check the T&C documents.
The operation is exactly the same as a cataract operation and we do cataract surgery even in babies a few months old. The lens material is similar. While we cannot guarantee anything, it is almost certain that the lens will last for the rest of your life. Multifocal Lenses have been used in young babies and children with cataract as well.
After the age of 40 the natural lens becomes more and more rigid. This is the major reason that a frequent
change of spectacles is needed. As the operation tackles the lens itself, theoretically the refraction should stabilise for the rest of your life, but obviously does not alter the normal ageing and health related changes. You
must maintain yearly appointments with the optometrist for the above reason.
There is no evidence to restrict alcohol after surgery. The immediate 3-4 days after operation, the corneal wound is the weakest and you want to avoid anything which can lead to any form of trauma or infection. If you had a sedative, please discuss with the anaesthetist.
It is best to avoid a head shower for a week and avoid swimming for about 4-6 weeks.
Unless otherwise specified, use the drops 4 times a day for 2 weeks and then twice a day till they run out. If the
eye becomes sensitive to light, you might need to use the steroid eye drops for longer periods.
There is a clear plastic shield to protect the eyes from accidents. You need to leave the shield on for 24 hours,
and then every night for 5 days.
You can boil some water with cotton and let it cool down, this sterilised cotton can be used to wipe the eyes over
a closed lid and to keep it clean.