Not all cataract lenses are created equal

And though Newmedica insist NHS patients should receive only the best ones, not everyone does.


Why does the lens matter so much?

There are several types of replacement lenses on the market and whilst they all do the job, some of them do it better than others. In short, the higher the quality of the lens, the lower the chances of posterior capsular opacification (PCO).

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The PCO problem

PCO is a frustratingly common complication after cataract surgery. Caused by an accumulation of lens epithelial cells (LECs) on the surfaces of the replacement lenses and the posterior lens capsule, it leads to cloudy vision and reduced visual acuity. The key factors that reduce the likelihood of PCO include overall eye health, quality of surgery carried out and the type of lens used.

Inevitably the patient will then have to undergo another procedure called YAG laser capsulotomy to correct it.

What can be done about it?

We can’t speak for everyone but at Newmedica we choose to mitigate the risk of PCO through a combination of high-quality clinical standards and high-quality lenses.

What lenses do Newmedica use?

Only the best. As standard. For everyone, including your NHS patients. Specifically, it’s a hydrophobic lens with a proprietary edge design that slow the growth of LECs. In fact, our monofocal lens for NHS patients has the lowest PCO rate of any lens on the market at 3 and 5 years.*

A study by the Royal College of Ophthalmology (RCO) in 2021 showed that at three years, the overall PCO YAG treatment rate for Monofocal Single Piece IOLs was 7.4%, while the monofocal lens used by Newmedica has a rate of just 2.8%.

*Source : The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, National Ophthalmology Database “Feasibility Study of Post-Cataract Posterior Capsule Opacification” May 2021

Why the lens matters?

To put this into context, by introducing this lens back in 2017, Newmedica has reduced the volume of YAG treatments by over 46,000, saving the NHS over £4.5m. This number is predicted to rise to over 168,000 YAG treatments and over £16m by 2029, based on the volume of patients treated to date with this lens.

By decreasing the need for additional treatment, the NHS saves money, allowing them to reallocate capacity and budget to support other pressures.

Most importantly, we’re adamant that your NHS patients deserve exceptional care and the best clinical outcomes.  By using the highest quality lens, fewer of your patients will have to go through the worry of an avoidable treatment.

Find a location

Barlborough

Unit 1B and 1C Midland Place, Barlborough Links, Chesterfield, S43 4FR

Birmingham

Aqueous One, Aston Cross Business Village, Rocky Lane, Birmingham, B6 5RQ

Bradford and Huddersfield

Park House, Woodland Park, Bradford Road, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, BD19 6BW

Brigg

Riverside Surgery, Barnard Avenue, Brigg, DN20 8AS

Bristol - Aztec West

Building 720, Waterside Drive, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4UD

Bristol - Litfield House

Litfield House Medical Centre, 1 Litfield Place, Clifton Down, Bristol, BS8 3LS

Bromsgrove

BHI Parkside, Stourbridge Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B61 0AZ

Bury St Edmunds

4 Lawson Place, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 7EW

Darlington

Park Place Health Centre, Park Place, Darlington DL1 5LW

Exeter

The Medical Eye Clinic, Sigford Road, Matford Park, Exeter, EX2 8NL

Gloucester Aspen

Aspen Medical Centre, Horton Road, Gloucester, GL1 3PX

Gloucester Brighouse

19D Brighouse Court, Barnwood, Gloucester, GL4 3RT

Grimsby

Cromwell Primary Care Centre, 1st Floor, Cromwell Road, Grimsby, DN31 2BH

Hampshire

St Andrew's House, 4400 Parkway, Solent Business Park, Whiteley, PO15 7FJ

Ipswich

London House, Hadleigh Road, Ipswich, IP2 0EE

Langford

Mendip Vale Medical Centre, Pudding Pie Lane, Langford, BS40 5EL

Leeds

St Martins House, 210 Chapeltown Road, Leeds, LS7 4HZ

Leicester

Grove Park, 1 Barton Close, Leicester, LE19 1SJ

Lincoln

North Hykeham Health Centre, Moor Lane, North Hykeham, Lincoln, LN6 9BA

Manchester West

Unit 27 Cobra Court, 2 Blackmore Road, Manchester, M32 0QY

Middlesbrough

29-30 Market Place, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, TS3 6HR

Newcastle

Hadrian House, Balliol Business Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE12 8EW

Northampton

Unit 2 Westbury Court, Anglia Way, Moulton Park, Northampton, NN3 6JA

Norwich

Lakeside 200, Old Chapel Way, Broadland Business Park, Norwich, NR7 0WG

Nottingham

Tottle Road, Riverside Business Park, Nottingham, NG2 1RT

Nuneaton

GP Led Health Centre, Ramsden Avenue, Camp Hill, Nuneaton, CV10 9EB

Oxfordshire

Avalon House, Marcham Road, Abingdon, OX14 1TZ

Plymouth

Forder House, 20 William Prance Road, Derriford, Plymouth, PL6 5WR

Shrewsbury

Unit 2, Anchorage Ave., Shrewsbury Bus. Park, Shrewsbury, SY2 6FG

Slough

Buckland House, Langley Business Park, 10 Waterside Drive, Langley, Slough, Berkshire, SL3 6EZ

Swindon

Swindon NHS Health Centre, 1 Islington Street, Swindon, SN1 2DQ

Telford

Queens Road Consulting Rooms, 92 Queens Road, Donnington, Telford, TF2 8BZ

Wakefield

106 Barnsley Road, Wakefield, WF1 5NX

Worcester

Unit 5, Berkeley Business Park, Wainwright Road, Worcester, WR4 9FA

Worksop

The Dukeries, 31-33 Retford Road, Worksop, S80 2PU

Getting referred to Newmedica

If you think you have an eye condition, you should see your optician or GP for a detailed assessment. They’ll go through all the options available and tell you where you can have your treatment.

The referral process will differ slightly depending on whether you want to be an NHS or private patient. You’ll find all the information you need on our NHS and private patient pages.

Are you a health care professional?
Find out how to refer a patient.

NHS patients

Learn more about our NHS services
and how you can be referred.

Read more

Private patients

Find details about our private
options and how to get started.

Read more

Self-referring? Call 0800 4096 792