Cataract

What is cataract?

Cataract is a clouding of your natural ocular lens. Normally, the lens ensures that a sharp image is projected onto the back of your retina. This gives you sharp vision. If you have cataract, the lens becomes cloudy and your vision is blurred. Cataract occurs most often in people aged over 60, but it can also happen earlier and can develop over months or years.

Symptoms of cataract

Blurred vision
Double vision
Changing vision after the age of 60 (e.g. the ability to read again without glasses)

Treatment of cataract

The only solution for cataract is an operation in which the natural cloudy lens is replaced by a clear artificial lens. We can carry out this operation under local anaesthesia. There are various techniques to remove the cloudy lens.

A cataract operation with lens replacement is the most common operation in Europe. The entire procedure takes less than a quarter of an hour. We use the latest and most advanced instruments for the procedure to guarantee optimal results. The incisions are so small (less than 3mm) that no stitches are needed.

Lens replacement with laser

Since the summer of 2012, we are the first in Belgium to be able to perform a lens replacement at our eye centre without needing to make any incision. A lens replacement with laser offers more precision, as a result of which the lens implant can be placed even more precisely in the perfect spot. The laser is also much easier on the retina and the inside of the cornea. Greater precision and reliability also have much less likelihood of side effects. Your ophthalmologist will discuss with you what the most suitable lens is (see below) as well as the best treatment method (with or without laser).

Phaco-emulsification

Via a small incision, a hollow probe is introduced that vibrates at high speed. The lens with the cataract is broken down into tiny pieces, which are then sucked out through the probe. The rear part of the capsular bag remains intact in order to support the new implanted lens.

Inserting the lens implant

Via the same incision, a folded lens implant is inserted and placed, manually or with a laser, in the empty lens capsular bag.

New, clear lens

Once the new, clear artificial lens is in place, the probe is removed. Because the incision is so small, no stitches are needed.

In-depth examination and the right lens implants for you

A good, thorough intake examination is important for the right treatment and choice of lens implants. This preliminary test takes just over two hours and we recommend that someone comes with you since we might be dilating your pupils with eye drops.

Based on the results of the examination and your own expectations and life situation, we will determine the most suitable lens implants. Our doctors can implant every type of lens.

Standard, monofocal lens

A monofocal lens implant corrects most of your farsightedness. After the operation, most patients can function without distance glasses. For distances closer than 1.5m (reading, crafts, cooking, eating, prices in the shops, mobile phone, car dashboard, etc.), you will still need glasses. The lens is reimbursed by your health insurer.

Multifocal lens

These lenses are designed to provide clear vision at multiple distances. They reduce or eliminate the need for glasses for reading or other activities at different distances, and this for the rest of your life. Some patients need time for adjustment to get used to these new multifocal lenses as the brain has to get used to the new situation. You also need sufficient light to see well with these lenses.

Toric lens

If you have irregularities in the cornea (astigmatism, sphericity, etc.), these can be compensated for with a toric lens implant. Both monofocal and multifocal lenses are available in this form.

How much does a cataract treatment cost?

During the consultation, we will explain the costs of your specific treatment. The cost of a cataract operation depends on the choice of lens. This treatment is partially covered by medical insurance. During the consultation, we give you all the necessary information about a cataract operation, how you have to prepare for it and what aftercare is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cataract and is it the same as cataracts or “staar”?

Yes, cataract and “staar” mean exactly the same thing. A cataract is a clouding of your natural eye lens, which causes blurry vision. It occurs most commonly in people over sixty, but it can also develop earlier due to diabetes or certain medications.

What are the first symptoms of cataract?

Blurred vision is the most common symptom of cataracts—it feels as if your glasses are constantly dirty. Other typical symptoms include sensitivity to bright light, seeing halos around lights, needing more light when reading, and double vision in one eye. If you find yourself able to read without glasses again after turning 60, this is often a sign of early-stage cataracts.

Can cataract be treated without surgery?

No, eye drops or medication cannot improve or stabilize cataract. The only effective treatment is cataract surgery, during which the cloudy natural lens is replaced with an artificial implant lens. You do not need to wait until the cataract is “ripe”: as soon as it starts affecting your daily life, surgery may be recommended.

How long does recovery take after cataract surgery and when can you drive again?

Vision improves immediately after cataract surgery. You can read and watch television right away. Returning to work is often possible after about one week. Driving may require a short adjustment period, especially if you previously wore strong prescription glasses. You should avoid rubbing your eyes for two weeks, and eye drops must be used for at least four weeks.

Can cataract come back after surgery?

No, cataract cannot return. The cloudy natural lens has been replaced with an implant lens that lasts at least 60 years and is no longer affected by aging. However, some patients may develop a secondary cataract, also called posterior capsule opacification. This is a clouding of the lens capsule and can easily be treated with a short YAG laser procedure under local anesthetic eye drops at Medipolis.