Diagnosis

Getting a diagnosis

If you’re experiencing cataract symptoms, it’s important to get your eyes checked as soon as possible by your local optician, who will assess your general eye health and conduct a sight test to check the quality of your vision.

If a cataract diagnosis is confirmed, the treatment options available to you depend on where you live.

  • If you live in England and would like a referral to SpaMedica, simply let your optician or GP know which hospital you would like to attend and they will make the referral for you.
  • If you live in Wales, your Local Health Board will decide which hospital you are referred to for treatment.
  • If you live in Northern Ireland, please be aware that our Belfast hospital is currently only treating private patients and does not offer NHS-funded cataract surgery. If you are interested in private cataract surgery, please visit our Freedom Vision website.

Choosing a provider

Many NHS patients assume they’ll be referred to their local hospital for cataract surgery, but did you know that – if you live in England – you have the right to choose where you have your treatment?   

You can find a list of cataract surgery providers near you using the NHS website. If you’re looking for your nearest SpaMedica hospital, you can find a map of our locations here.  

When choosing a treatment provider, think about the factors that are most important to you. They might include:  

  • Waiting times – how long are you willing to wait for cataract surgery?  
  • Location – how far are you prepared to travel for treatment?  
  • Quality – does your chosen provider have excellent patient outcomes and employ experienced consultant surgeons?   

Referral to treatment time

At SpaMedica, you won’t have to compromise. It’s usually a four-week wait from referral to treatment, meaning we can offer shorter waiting times than many NHS hospitals. We have hospitals in most major towns and cities and offer a free transport service for patients who would otherwise struggle to access our services. Our patient outcomes are also excellent – all of our hospitals inspected by the independent healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), have been graded as good or outstanding, and our surgeons are amongst the very best in the country.   

Click here to view SpaMedica’s five-star ratings and reviews from patients for each of our hospitals on NHS Choices.