Cataracts can cause a great deal of discomfort and be a real hindrance to daily life. Their surgical removal can reduce these problems and have the effect of reducing daily stress and improving overall well-being.

A cataract is a defect of the lens of the eye. It progresses slowly, so deterioration of vision may not be noticed until a long time after the onset of the disease. What should be done when the first symptoms of cataracts appear? Read on to find out more about the disease itself, its causes, symptoms and treatments.

What is a cataract?

Cataracts are a disease of the lens of the eye that involves partial or complete opacity of the lens. With this condition, the lens gradually loses transparency, allowing less light to enter the eye.

In 99% of cases, the ageing process of the eye is responsible for cataract formation – the risk of cataracts increases after the age of 50.

The disease develops slowly and painlessly. Progressive opacity of the lens is usually found by an ophthalmologist during a routine check-up.

The patient only notices the first symptoms of cataracts when the quality of vision and the comfort of daily life deteriorates.

Listen to the educational podcast on the Onet platform with our Dr. Maria Muzyka-Woźniak, M.D., Ph.D., on cataracts and modern methods of cataract treatment

Symptoms of cataracts

Is the image you see blurred? Or are you seeing double? Do you feel like you’re constantly looking through a foggy glass? Familiarise yourself with the common and frequent symptoms of cataract, and if any of these occur, consult your ophthalmologist immediately:

  • reduced visual acuity – blurred vision
  • the sensation of looking through fogged or dirty glass
  • double vision
  • light blur effect
  • hypersensitivity to light
  • colour fading
  • poorer night vision
  • very frequent need to change glasses – difficulties in choosing correction lenses

Sometimes, cataracts appear to improve near vision by altering the refraction of light in the eye. However, this improvement is short-lived, and there is also a rapid deterioration of both near and far vision.

Is cataract an age-dependent disease?

Yes! Senile cataracts appear in some people after the age of 50. This is characterised by reduced visual acuity from near and far. The only effective treatment for cataracts is surgery, which is a short procedure (takes about 20 minutes), performed under local anaesthetic, with no need to stay in hospital overnight.

Can cataracts be completely cured? What are the ways to remove cataracts?

Yes! Cataracts are a treatable disease. It is worth going for routine examinations and check-ups: cataract do not immediately give a clear deterioration of vision, which can be a serious problem. When we visit the doctor too late, with very advanced cataracts and a severe deterioration of visual acuity, the risk of problems during the procedure increases.

Timely surgical cataract removal is the only effective method of getting rid of the cloudy lens. Consult your ophthalmologist to find out more.

Cataract surgery

The only way to remove a cataract is surgery. Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens of the eye and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens.

The choice of lens implanted during cataract surgery affects quality of vision and therefore the comfort of life after surgery.

Every day, we help patients regain their visual acuity with cataract removal surgery.

Types of lenses implanted as part of cataract surgery

The type of intraocular lens implanted during cataract surgery is chosen individually for each patient by the specialist, depending on the condition of the eye and the patient’s preferences. The lenses used at our facility in Wrocław include:

  • Monofocal – only allows you to see sharply at one distance, e.g. they only allow you to see far away or only read up close. For other distances, the patient will need to use glasses.
  • Multifocal – allows you to see clearly at all distances described by the manufacturer (e.g. good far vision, intermediate vision and reading). They offer a wide range of independence from glasses. Multifocal lenses make use of the brain’s neuroadaptive abilities.
  • EDOF – extended depth-of-focus lenses. They provide visual acuity over an extended range of distances from distance to approximately 50 cm from the eye. Low plus lenses are generally necessary for reading fine print. An additional advantage of EDOF lenses is good night vision, e.g. when driving a car.
  • Toric lenses – correct astigmatism (refractive error). All the aforementioned intraocular lens types can be used in a toric variant to correct astigmatism.

Cataract treatment and surgery – frequently asked questions

Do I qualify for cataract surgery?

This depends. Cataract surgery should be carried out when the disease makes daily life difficult or when there are recommendations from the doctor.

It can be carried out at any age.

How does cataract treatment work?

Cataract treatment begins with an initial consultation with an ophthalmologist. Based on a detailed examination, one of our specialists from the SPEKTRUM facility in Wrocław will decide whether the cataract removal procedure can be carried out.

The examination results and the history are also the basis for the practitioner to suggest an appropriate lens, tailored to the patient’s needs and expectations.

The cataract procedure is painless, takes about 20 minutes and does not require prolonged hospitalisation. It involves making an incision in the cornea of the eye, removing the natural, cloudy lens and implanting an artificial lens in its place with full clarity to correct the visual impairment.

What type of lens would be best for cataract removal?

The choice of the type of lens to be implanted during cataract surgery is made by the patient during the consultation with the doctor.

Note! The lens cannot be replaced after the procedure – it stays with us for the rest of our lives!

When choosing a lens, answer your doctor’s questions in detail. Remember, you are choosing quality of vision for life.

A personalised lens selection can provide a new quality of life without glasses.

Cataract surgery and astigmatism

Thanks to modern technology, astigmatism can be corrected at the same time during cataract removal surgery by replacing the cloudy lens with an artificial toric lens (designed to correct astigmatism). The artificial lens is made of a soft material that is perfectly tolerated by the eye.

Benefits of cataract removal

The surgical removal of a cataract can significantly improve a patient’s quality of life, who is then able to return to activities that were previously difficult or impossible for him or her – such as reading, watching television or hobbies that require precise vision within a relatively short time after surgery.

Some of the greatest benefits experienced by patients after cataract surgery include:

  • improved visual acuity
  • brighter, more vivid colours

Cost of cataract surgery

The price of cataract surgery depends on the individually selected lens. In addition, the costs of the surgery include:

  • necessary examinations
  • care by an anaesthesiologist
  • set of medications to be used after cataract surgery
  • follow-up visits
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