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Cataract surgery
What is a cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens. The lens sits behind the iris and focuses light onto the retina – when it becomes cloudy, light no longer passes through properly and vision gradually worsens. The most common type is age-related cataract, but it can also develop earlier – with diabetes, after an eye injury, long-term use of corticosteroids or due to other diseases.
Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. The good news is that vision loss caused by cataract can almost always be treated successfully with surgery.
Recognise the symptoms
- blurred or hazy vision
- glare and sensitivity to light
- difficulty seeing at night, halos around lights
- faded colours and weaker contrast
- frequent prescription changes
- difficulty reading and driving
When to operate?
A cataract does not need to be operated on just because it is there. Surgery makes sense when the symptoms affect your daily life – reading, driving, work or hobbies.
There is no need to wait for the cataract to “ripen”. We make the decision together, after the examination.
Step by step
Your path to clear vision
From the first examination to the final check-up – open each step and find out what to expect.
1First examination and diagnosisWe confirm the cataract and assess the whole eye
At the specialist examination we check visual acuity, eye pressure and the condition of the lens, and then, with dilating drops, the retina and optic nerve. This is important because the final result of surgery also depends on the health of the other parts of the eye.
Dilating drops blur your vision for a few hours – come with someone and do not drive after the examination.
For the most thorough assessment before surgery we recommend the Premium Plus examination with imaging of the optic nerve and the back of the eye.
2Lens calculationPrecise measurements and a lens chosen for your lifestyle
We measure the eye with the ZEISS IOLMaster 700, one of the most precise biometers available today. Contact-free and in a few seconds, it measures the length of the eye, the curvature of the cornea and the position of the lens. From this data we calculate the exact power of the artificial lens that will remain permanently in your eye.
Then we talk about how you use your eyes: whether you read a lot, drive at night or work at a computer. Based on this, you choose the type of lens together with the surgeon – monofocal, multifocal, toric (for astigmatism) or EDOF. Finally, you receive the exact price and a date for surgery.
3Preparing for surgeryWhat to do in the days before the procedure
- Bring a list of all the medicines you take, including eye drops.
- Do not stop blood thinners or diabetes medication on your own – we will give you instructions.
- If we prescribe drops before the procedure, use them according to the schedule.
- Arrange for someone to accompany you: you must not drive yourself on the day of surgery.
- You will receive written instructions about eating and medication on the day of the procedure together with your appointment.
4Day of surgeryA short procedure, you are awake, and you go home the same day
On arrival you receive dilating drops and local anaesthetic drops. You are awake the whole time, and the eye feels no pain.
The surgeon works under a state-of-the-art Leica surgical microscope. Through a very small incision in the cornea, the cloudy lens is broken up with ultrasound (phacoemulsification) using the ZEISS QUATERA 700 system and removed, and an artificial lens is implanted in its place. The incision usually seals itself, without stitches.
The procedure itself takes about ten minutes. After a short rest and check, you go home with your companion, with a protective shield on the eye and written instructions.
5The first few daysWhat is normal and how to care for your eye
Vision may be blurred for a few hours to a few days, and mild scratchiness or watering is common. Most patients notice clearer vision and brighter colours very soon after surgery.
- Use the drops exactly according to the schedule – usually for about 3 weeks.
- Sleep with the protective shield over your eye at night.
- Reading, television and light walks are allowed.
6How to behave until you recoverThe first 2–4 weeks, until the eye has fully healed
Avoid
- rubbing and pressing on the eye
- water and soap in the eye, swimming and sauna
- eye make-up
- lifting heavy loads and sport
- driving until your doctor allows it
Contact us immediately if you notice
- severe pain that does not go away
- a sudden drop in vision
- flashes, new “floaters” or a curtain-like shadow
- increased redness of the eye
7Check-ups after surgeryWe monitor your recovery until the final result
The first check-up is the day after the procedure, and further ones are scheduled according to your recovery. At the check-ups we examine vision, eye pressure and healing.
Once the eye has fully healed, usually after about a month, we determine your final prescription if you need glasses – for reading or fine-tuning. You can have glasses made at Optika Paloma, in the same building.
Equipment
Technology you can trust
We work with the same equipment used by the world’s leading eye clinics. The precision of measurements and the stability of the procedure directly affect your final vision – so we make no compromises here.
ZEISSIOLMaster 700
The gold standard of eye measurement for accurate lens calculation.
It is considered the gold standard of optical biometry worldwide. Contact-free and extremely precise, it measures the whole eye – the basis for an accurate lens power calculation and the best possible vision after surgery.
ZEISSQUATERA 700
One of the most advanced systems for cataract surgery.
One of the most advanced cataract surgery systems in the world. Throughout the procedure it maintains exceptionally stable conditions in the eye – for a gentle, safe and precise operation.
Leicasurgical microscope
Premium optics for a crystal-clear view of the procedure.
A state-of-the-art surgical microscope of the kind used by leading eye clinics – it gives the surgeon a crystal-clear, magnified view of every detail of the eye throughout the procedure.
Choosing a lens
Which lens is right for you?
The artificial lens stays in your eye permanently. Which one you choose depends on how you want to see after surgery – you choose the lens together with the surgeon, based on measurements and your needs.
Monofocal lens
1.200,00 €
- sharp vision at one distance, usually far
- glasses are usually needed for reading
- excellent quality of vision and contrast
Multifocal lens
1.600,00 €
- sharp vision at distance and near
- glasses are not needed for most activities
- possible halos around lights at night, especially at first
- An EDOF lens provides continuous vision from distance to intermediate range
Toric lens
price after examination
- a toric lens also corrects astigmatism
- the recommendation depends on the eye measurements
You receive the exact price after the examination and measurements. All check-ups after surgery are included in the price.
Results and safety
Results
In most patients vision improves significantly after surgery. The final result also depends on the condition of the retina, cornea and optic nerve. Depending on the type of lens, glasses are sometimes needed for reading or fine-tuning.
Possible risks
Cataract surgery has a high level of safety, but like any surgical procedure it carries certain risks, such as intraocular bleeding, raised eye pressure or inflammation. Serious complications are rare, and we further reduce the risk through careful preparation and regular check-ups.
Months or years later, the thin capsule behind the lens may become cloudy (“secondary cataract”). This is not the cataract coming back, and it is resolved with a short, painless YAG laser treatment.
FAQ
The questions our patients ask most often
Does the surgery hurt?
No. The eye is numbed with drops, and during the procedure you may feel only slight pressure. After surgery there may be mild discomfort or a foreign-body sensation that passes quickly.
How long does the whole process take?
The procedure itself takes about ten minutes, but expect to spend a few hours at the clinic for preparation beforehand and rest afterwards.
Are both eyes operated on at once?
No – one eye is operated on at a time. We operate on the second eye after the first has recovered, and the interval is agreed individually.
When can I drive and return to work?
It depends on your recovery and the type of work. Office work is often possible after just a few days, while driving only once your doctor confirms at a check-up that your vision is good enough.
Will I need glasses after surgery?
With a monofocal lens, reading glasses are usually needed. In most patients a multifocal lens greatly reduces the need for glasses.
Can a cataract come back?
No – the artificial lens does not become cloudy. The capsule behind it can become cloudy, which is resolved with a short laser treatment.
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Sources: American Academy of Ophthalmology – Cataract surgery · NHS – Recovery after cataract surgery · WHO – Blindness and vision impairment. General information does not replace an examination and your doctor’s advice.