It still is. A cataract dims and yellows everything so gradually you barely notice what you've lost. Premium laser cataract surgery brings it back — performed in Colchester by Mr Hatch Mukherjee, a triple fellowship-trained consultant with more than 10,000 operations behind him. Most patients see the difference within 24 hours.
No obligation, and no pressure to book on the day.
Cataract surgery replaces the cloudy lens with a clear artificial one. That new lens can do more than simply restore basic clarity. It can correct your distance vision, your reading vision, your astigmatism, or all three, depending on which lens you choose. If you have worn glasses for decades, this is the one moment where a single procedure can change that permanently. The NHS provides a standard monofocal lens, which restores clear distance vision but means you will still need reading glasses. Private cataract surgery gives you access to the full range of premium lenses designed to reduce or remove your dependence on glasses entirely.
Corrects vision at one fixed distance, usually distance. Reading glasses are still needed. Monofocal lenses produce the sharpest distance vision with minimal side effects. Best for: patients who are comfortable using reading glasses and want the most straightforward outcome.
Corrects vision at multiple distances. Designed to reduce dependence on glasses for both distance and near tasks. Some patients notice halos around lights at night in the first few months. Best for: patients who want significant freedom from glasses at most distances.
Corrects distance, intermediate, and near vision simultaneously. The strongest option for full spectacle freedom across reading, screen work, and driving. Best for: patients who want to read, use a computer, and drive without glasses at any point.
Provides a continuous range of vision from distance through intermediate, with functional near vision in good lighting. Fewer halos than multifocal or trifocal lenses. Best for: patients who spend significant time at screens and prefer fewer visual side effects.
Mr Mukherjee discusses lens options during your consultation based on your eye measurements, prescription, lifestyle, and what matters most to you. The lens choice is the most important decision in the process.
This is one of the most common decisions cataract patients face. Here is an honest comparison.
| NHS | The Vision Surgeon | |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting time | 12–26+ weeks from referral | Typically 1–2 weeks |
| Lens options | Monofocal only | Monofocal, multifocal, trifocal, EDOF |
| Surgical technique | Standard manual | Femtosecond laser-assisted |
| Who operates | May be trainee under supervision | Mr Mukherjee personally |
| Cost | Free | From £2,000 per eye |
Private surgery is not always about avoiding the NHS. For many patients it comes down to the lens: the NHS restores clarity with a standard monofocal, which means keeping your reading glasses. Going private is how you leave the glasses behind — and it spares you months on a waiting list, which are months of faded colours, difficult night driving and life on hold.
Being told you need eye surgery is frightening — most people picture something long, complicated and risky. The reality is gentler than almost any patient expects. Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed operation in the UK — around 450,000 a year, with a success rate above 95% — and in experienced hands it takes about fifteen minutes per eye. Mr Mukherjee has more than 10,000 procedures under his belt — you can be assured of a senior, expert surgeon. Here, every procedure uses premium femtosecond laser technique — and with the full range of premium lenses available, the operation can do far more than remove the cloud.
A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye. The lens sits behind the iris and focuses light onto the retina to produce clear vision. As the lens ages, proteins within it begin to clump together, creating cloudy patches that scatter light instead of focusing it.
Cataracts develop gradually. Early on, you may notice that colours appear faded, night driving becomes harder because of glare from headlights, or your glasses prescription changes more frequently than it used to. As the cataract progresses, vision becomes increasingly blurry and daily tasks like reading, watching television, or recognising faces become difficult. No eye drop, medication, or change of glasses can reverse a cataract. Surgery is the only effective treatment.
At The Vision Surgeon, cataract surgery uses femtosecond laser-assisted technique (FLACS). The laser creates the corneal incision and the circular opening in the lens capsule with computer-controlled precision — more accurate and reproducible than manual methods, producing more consistent results and faster healing.
The cloudy lens is broken into tiny fragments using ultrasound (phacoemulsification) and gently removed. A new artificial intraocular lens (IOL) is folded, inserted, and positioned inside the lens capsule where it unfolds permanently. No stitches. Self-sealing incision. Typically 15 to 20 minutes per eye, and both eyes are usually treated together in a single visit (separately if you prefer, or if clinically better for your eyes). You are awake throughout with the eye completely numbed by drops.
Surgery rewards repetition. Mr Mukherjee has performed over 10,000 eye operations, and that volume shows up exactly where you want it to: consistent outcomes, a calm theatre, and a surgeon who has seen — and handled — everything. Your eyes are not where anyone should be learning.
The femtosecond laser creates the incision and opens the lens capsule with computer-controlled accuracy, for more consistent results and faster healing than manual techniques. Not all private practices offering cataract surgery use laser-assisted technique.
Monofocal, multifocal, trifocal, EDOF and toric lenses are all available. Mr Mukherjee recommends based on your eye measurements, lifestyle and visual priorities — not on which lenses the practice happens to stock.
Mr Mukherjee plans your surgery, performs it himself and reviews you afterwards, with his own team taking your measurements and looking after you along the way. The surgeon who knows your eyes and your goals is the one who operates on them, and he stays responsible throughout — which is not how NHS or chain-clinic pathways typically work.
While NHS waiting times currently run 12 to 26 weeks, a consultation here can typically be arranged within 1 to 2 weeks of first contact — and surgery follows shortly after. Months of faded colours and difficult night driving are months you don't get back.
Both eyes are usually treated in the same visit, so you only go through it once — though they can be done separately if you prefer, or if your eyes make that the safer choice. About fifteen minutes per eye, painless, and you go home the same day.
Most patients have good vision within 24 to 48 hours — and with a premium lens, that includes near and reading vision, not just distance. Rest, wear the protective shields when sleeping, and enjoy the colours coming back.
Very good vision typically arrives within a week. Over the following weeks your eyes settle and adapt — with a premium lens, near vision often sharpens further as your brain fine-tunes to it. A follow-up with Mr Mukherjee confirms the outcome.
Private cataract surgery at The Vision Surgeon costs between £2,000 and £4,000 per eye in 2026. The price depends primarily on the lens type chosen.
Monofocal lenses sit at the lower end of the range; trifocal and EDOF at the higher end, because the lens technology is more advanced and the surgical planning more detailed. The price includes everything: your consultation with Mr Mukherjee, premium femtosecond laser-assisted surgery, the lens itself and all your aftercare appointments.
For context, UK private cataract surgery prices in 2026 range from approximately £2,000 per eye for standard monofocal at regional clinics to over £5,500 per eye for premium trifocal lenses at London practices. The Vision Surgeon sits within the competitive range while offering consultant-led, fellowship-trained care with femtosecond laser precision, all performed locally in Colchester.
Payment options are available. Some private health insurance policies cover cataract surgery. The practice team can discuss both during your consultation.
For a quote based on your individual lens choice and eye measurements, book a consultation.
Or call 01206 670712
No obligation. Your quote is confirmed after your individual assessment.
For decades, cataract surgery meant swapping a cloudy lens for a basic clear one. Today it's an opportunity: the lens that replaces your cataract can also correct the prescription you've worn glasses for all your life. Brighter colours, sharper faces, confident night driving — and for many patients, no glasses at all. Mr Mukherjee helps you make that choice based on your eyes and your life, with the judgement of more than 10,000 operations behind the recommendation. A consultation can usually be arranged within 1 to 2 weeks.
No referral needed. No obligation. No waiting list.
