Ophthalmology services

Ophthalmology services at The Duchy Hospital in Harrogate

If you are having problems with your eyes or looking to improve your vision, our specialist team at The Duchy Hospital in Harrogate could help you.

Our ophthalmology team can diagnose and treat various eye conditions and also offer corrective and cosmetic procedures.

Do I need to see an ophthalmologist?

If you’re experiencing any of the below symptoms, you should visit an ophthalmologist:

Changes in your vision such as seeing spots or double vision
Loss of vision
Physical changes to your eye
Changes in colour vision
Changes in your field of vision such as shadows or blurriness

The most common procedures we carry out at The Duchy Hospital are:

Cataract surgery

A cataract is when the natural lens in your eye becomes cloudy. The most common cause is simply getting older. You might find you have blurred vision or changes in the focus of your eye.

If you have cataracts, new glasses may help to some extent. However, if the cataract is too advanced, surgery is the only option to restore your vision.

Cataract surgery normally takes between 20 and 30 minutes. It involves removing the affected lens and replacing it with a new, artificial lens. Find more information about cataract surgery here.

Lens exchange surgery

Lens exchange surgery is also referred to as lens replacement surgery. It involves the removal of your lens, which is replaced with an intraocular lens. It normally helps people who suffer with presbyopia or extreme farsightedness.

The procedure is normally quite quick and is mostly performed in an outpatient setting. If you need surgery on both eyes they will need to be done separately with a gap between operations so your first eye can recover.

Eyelid surgery

Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is a common cosmetic procedure that involves the removal of excess skin or fat from the eye. Surgery can be performed on the upper eyelid or the lower eyelid.

Depending on your consultant and the type of procedure you require this can be carried out under local or general anaesthetic.

As with all cosmetic procedures, success cannot be guaranteed. Your consultant will explain in detail the possible risks and outcomes of the procedure before you decide if you would like to go ahead.