The cataract is the lens of your eye, so when it’s taken out the light coming into your eye is no longer focused and your vision is very blurred. Before implants were used, patients needed very thick glasses to see properly and the image was often distorted.

Now, when the cataract is removed, it’s replaced by a plastic lens called an implant. This goes in exactly the same place as the cataract and doesn’t harm your eye or ever wear out.

Before the operation, your eye is measured by lasers or ultrasound and the strength of the implant required is calculated - they come in a whole range of strengths just like glasses. Mr Baranyovits uses the latest equipment and software to calculate which lens is best for you. Cataract surgery effectively places your spectacle lenses in your eyes to correct any short or long-sightedness.

Cataract surgery is also used as an alternative to laser correction or other implant techniques in refractive surgery. When the operation is carried out to reduce your dependence on spectacles rather than to remove a cataract, it’s called a refractive lens exchange or RLE.

Here are the main types of implant that Mr Baranyovits can offer:

Monofocal Lens implant

These the most commonly implanted lenses today and are still the only type of implant available on the NHS. Like single vision glasses they have equal focusing power across the whole lens but can provide high quality vision at a single focal point. Mr Baranyovits will usually choose an implant that will leave your eye focused for distance. These lenses do not correct astigmatism and you may need glasses for close-up tasks like reading and writing.

Toric Lens implant

Mr Baranyovits helped develop the toric lens implant. He worked closely on prototyping with the UK’s only lens manufacturer, and one of his patients became the first person in the country to wear these lenses. They are used to help correct astigmatism and have extra power in one part of the lens - similar to spectacles which correct astigmatism. These lenses have to be positioned accurately within your eye. While toric lenses can improve your distance vision and astigmatism, you will still need corrective lenses for all near close-up such as reading.

Multifocal Lens implant

Multifocal implants have different powers across the lens (a little like varifocals) that allow you to see at a variety of distances including far away, intermediate and near. Many patients can be effectively spectacle free with these implants. They can cause more glare and extra images than monofocal or toric lenses, but few patients notice these symptoms six months after surgery. Mr Baranyovits uses Rayner Trifocal implants.

Secondary implants

The good news is that if you have already had cataract surgery, a secondary implant can improve your all-round vision. With a standard monofocal implant in one eye or both, it is still possible to have the benefits of multifocal lens vision. This can be achieved with a second very thin multifocal lens that is put in front of your monofocal implant. It is inserted during a short procedure under a local anaesthetic.

LIKE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH PETER BARANYOVITS?

Telephone us today on 07971 343112 and speak to Inger Aldridge, Private Secretary or email info@peterbaranyovits.com, or use our contact form now.

“I am still amazed how good my vision has become after the operation ... I can read small print and drive at night without any problems. Before, those activities were a real bother to me … Now I do not wear glasses at all and feel absolutely free.”