A gentle, computer‑guided laser performs some of the key steps with remarkable accuracy, helping to soften the lens and create precise openings. Instead of employing arcuate corneal incisions, I always employ toric intraocular lenses for the smallest magnitude of astigmatism that an intraocular lens is designed for, often well below one dioptre. I employ femtosecond laser cataract surgery at Moorfields Private in City Road.

For the technically minded: The femtosecond laser (wavelength around 1,053 nanometres) creates an anterior capsulotomy, fragments the nucleus and can plan corneal incisions, although I prefer refractive correction with toric optics. These steps can reduce phacoemulsification energy, improve capsulorhexis geometry and assist centration of premium optics.