Optegra Launches Pioneering Cataract Treatment for NHS Patients

NHS patients have benefited from Optegra’s pioneering approach to cataract surgery, showcasing how the independent sector can drive innovation and enhance patient care. The results have been exceptional, delivering outstanding medical outcomes and high patient satisfaction.

In this article, we share the experiences of five NHS patients who underwent bilateral surgery with a steroid injection at the time of their procedure – eliminating the need for post-operative eye drops.

How Optegra is Changing Cataract Surgery for NHS Patients

For the first time ever in the UK, and possibly the world, Optegra has offered NHS patients ground-breaking “treble” in cataract care:

• Same-day treatment – pre-operative consultation and surgery on the same day.
• Bilateral surgery – treating both eyes in a single procedure.
• Revolutionary drop-free surgery – eliminating the need for post-operative eye drops.

While each of these elements has been successfully implemented and medically validated individually, Optegra is the first to offer all three together. In the coming weeks, Optegra plans to extend drop-free surgery to all its NHS patients across the UK.

Optegra Medical Director and Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Mr. Alastair Stuart, explains: “This pilot at our Hampshire hospital is our latest approach in putting patients’ care and experience as well as outcomes at the very centre of what we do.

“For many years now we have been providing high-volume cataract surgeries for the NHS with the lowest complication rates, but we don’t want to stand still.  We are always looking at ways to innovate and improve our care for patients, and this approach has delivered the ultimate in convenience, as well as a medical advance which really is outstanding.”

The Three Core Elements of Our Pioneering Approach

Mr. Stuart explains the three elements in this pioneering approach:

“Normally after a cataract removal procedure, patients leave with a rather intense drop regime.  They have four different types of drops which they need to take three or four times a day, for up to four weeks.  This is quite a commitment and hassle for patients – in fact it is typically the only thing some patients have difficulty with!  They can sting and can be hard to administer particularly for older patients.  Due to medical advances, we are now able to apply a steroid injection as part of the surgical procedure, which eliminates the need for any drops whatsoever. This is revolutionary for patients’ post-operative care.

“On top of this, we have provided treatment for both eyes on the same day. While we do this regularly for private patients and so have a wealth of medical evidence showing how effective this is, and how well this is received, the normal pathway for NHS patients is to have one eye treated and then return several weeks later for the second eye.  The downside of this, particularly for patients with strong prescriptions, is the imbalance between the two eyes in those interim weeks – it can be quite uncomfortable and make people feel unsteady when one eye has perfectly clear vision having been operated on, and the other is still cloudy.  By treating both eyes on one day – bilateral surgery – the patient leaves with excellent vision in both eyes, which immediately decreases risks of falls etc.

“And finally we are always looking at convenience in the patient experience.  By completing the pre-operative diagnostic tests and consultation on the same day of treatment, patients have been delighted to reduce the number of visits to the hospital – especially if they have some distance to travel and are having to rely on friends or family to be available as the patient cannot drive themselves home. This was published by doctor Harry Roberts’ team in Devon recently showing that patients really receive this very well.”

Patient Success Stories: Transforming Vision at Optegra Eye Hospital Hampshire

Patients who took part in this pioneering pilot at Optegra Eye Hospital Hampshire were thrilled with the care they received.

Jim Hayles, 70, from Southampton had been living with cataracts for years. Wearing glasses with a reading lens in one eye and a distance lens in the other, he noticed his vision becoming very blurry.

He said: “I feel in very safe hands – it is so professionally run here. When I was speaking to the surgeon he was saying about possibly having the tests and both eyes treated at the same time. And I thought ‘brilliant’, because I was worried about the fact that if I had only one eye treated, with my prescription levels, I would have trouble seeing while waiting for my second op.  So two eyes at same time means I do not have to worry about having two ops and two lots of everything, so yes, that’s great.”

Maria’s Story: The Life-Changing Impact of Drop-Free Cataract Surgery

And regarding the drop-free treatment, patient Maria Walmsey, 78, from Waterlooville said: “I understand that previously drops were always administered to keep the eye free from bacteria. And it has all been explained to me that they do a steroid injection in the eye. So that is amazing. It saves about four weeks of drops and remembering to do them. It avoids all that inconvenience, so I couldn’t be happier.”

While each element of this innovative “treble” has been individually researched and medically validated, Optegra saw an opportunity to push the boundaries – becoming the first in the UK to combine all three into one seamless approach.

Reflecting on the pilot’s success, Mr Stuart concluded: “The post-op checks in the week following the procedures were excellent.  No patient experienced any issues, and all eyes were settling well. The patients all gave positive feedback and were thrilled with the experience, which is very encouraging.”

Optegra’s Expanding Commitment to Cataract Care

Optegra has increased its cataract care vastly in recent years. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Optegra performed 3,000 NHS cataract operations. Last year, that number soared to over 50,000 treatments in the UK and more than 170,000 globally. To meet growing demand, Optegra has made significant investments in new infrastructure, including the launch of 11 dedicated NHS cataract clinics across the UK. These clinics have expanded access to life-changing surgery, ensuring patients receive treatment within just four weeks of referral.

Following the success of this pilot, Optegra is now reviewing plans to introduce drop free cataract surgery across the group’s 17 hospitals and clinics.