Refractive lens exchange for patients from Warsaw and Mazovia: qualification, procedure, and follow-up appointments take place at our clinic at Kolejowa 1 Street in Warsaw. Performed by Dr. med. Victor Derhartunian. Price: PLN 11,000 per eye with a premium implant – one price for every lens model, including toric. Qualification examination: PLN 400.
SwissLaser in numbers: over 25,000 procedures performed by the chief surgeon · clinics in Warsaw, Krakow, Vienna, and Zurich · Google: 4,8 (258 reviews, Warsaw) and 5,0 (171 reviews, Krakow)
Refractive Lens Exchange in Warsaw – In Brief
- What it is: replacement of the eye’s natural lens with a premium implant – corrects refractive error and presbyopia, and cataracts can no longer develop.
- Who it’s for: typically after 45–50 years of age, when presbyopia accompanies the refractive error; for younger patients, we offer laser or ICL lenses.
- Price in Warsaw: PLN 11,000 per eye with a premium implant (spherical, toric, or Customized), qualification examination PLN 400.
- Procedure: qualification approx. 90 minutes, procedure approx. 15 minutes per eye with topical anesthesia, typically both eyes in one session (separately upon request), follow-up appointments on-site at Kolejowa 1 Street.
- Where and by whom: SwissLaser Warsaw, Kolejowa 1 Street (Wola), performed by Dr. med. Victor Derhartunian. Schedule a qualification appointment.
Why after age 45 this is often a better choice than laser
After the age of forty-five, the eye’s natural lens hardens – this is responsible for presbyopia and later for cataracts. Laser only changes the cornea, so after fifty, it solves only part of the problem. Lens exchange at our clinic at Kolejowa 1 corrects refractive error and presbyopia in one procedure, and the implanted lens does not cloud – cataracts cease to be an issue.
To be fair: this is an intraocular procedure. For individuals under 45 years of age with preserved accommodation, we usually recommend laser vision correction in Warsaw or phakic ICL lenses; a detailed comparison of methods can be found in the guide to refractive lens exchange.
Do I qualify for lens exchange?
A typical patient is over 45–50 years old, has a refractive error with developing presbyopia, or initial changes in their natural lens. For glaucoma, diabetes, AMD, and high myopia, the procedure is possible but requires a separate assessment – for high myopia before approximately 55 years of age, we more often recommend ICL lenses due to the risk of retinal detachment.
The examination at the Warsaw diagnostic laboratory (PLN 400, approximately 90 minutes) is decisive: optical biometry, MS-39 tomography with axial length measurement, fundus examination, and implant power calculation. The photos below are from our laboratory.
How the procedure works in Warsaw
- Qualification at Kolejowa 1 – you leave with a recommendation for a specific implant and price.
- Procedure – approximately 15 minutes per eye, with topical anesthesia, no hospital stay. The natural lens is removed by phacoemulsification and replaced with a premium implant.
- Second eye – typically in the same session, separately upon request.
- Follow-up appointments – the first one the next day in Warsaw, two follow-ups included in the package.
Trifocal or EDOF – how we select the lens in Warsaw
This is the most important decision of the entire treatment, and there is no single best implant – there are two vision profiles.
- Trifocal: sharp vision at distance, intermediate, and for reading. Light effects may appear around lights at night, which usually diminish during neuroadaptation.
- EDOF: extended depth of focus, very good contrast, and minimal light effects – a sensible choice for drivers and those working with monitors; for fine print, some patients reach for weak glasses.
During the qualification at Kolejowa 1, MS-39 maps show what the eye’s anatomy allows, and a discussion about daily life determines the rest.
Premium lenses we implant in Warsaw
The implant is selected after biometry, never ‘off the shelf’. Each variant – spherical, toric, and Customized – costs PLN 11,000 per eye.
- Trifocal: Alcon PanOptix Pro, Bausch+Lomb LuxLife.
- New generation full-range: Johnson&Johnson TECNIS Odyssey, Bausch+Lomb enVista Envy.
- EDOF: Johnson&Johnson TECNIS PureSee, Alcon Vivity, Bausch+Lomb LuxSmart.
- Customized: Teleon, also in toric variants.
How much does it cost
- 11,000 PLN per eye with premium implant – spherical, toric or Customized. Astigmatism correction at no extra charge.
- Qualification examination: 400 PLN.
- YAG capsulotomy: PLN 800 per eye, should the lens capsule cloud years later.
- Installment payment available (Santander Consumer Bank).
Healing and neuroadaptation
- First days: vision improves quickly; you will not drive home.
- Up to 2 weeks: no intense exertion or sports, no rubbing the eye.
- 4–6 weeks: the eye is healed.
- 2–12 weeks and longer: the brain learns to use the new optics; after 3–6 months, adaptation is complete, and then – if needed – we perform precise fine-tuning.
Think of hypertension therapy: we start with one tablet, measure blood pressure again – and adjust the dose until the result is right. It is the same with presbyopia correction: we correct, the brain adjusts to the new vision, and if necessary – we fine-tune. Enhancement is not a failure, but an element of precise treatment.
Dr. med. Victor Derhartunian, FEBO, FWCRS
Risks – honestly
Lens exchange has a safety profile similar to cataract surgery. Possible consequences: secondary cataract (YAG laser, PLN 800), temporary corneal edema, increased intraocular pressure, higher risk of retinal detachment in high myopia; for multifocal lenses, light effects at night during the adaptation period. A full overview with frequencies is provided in the guide to refractive lens exchange.
For patients from Łódź, Radom, and all of Mazovia
The clinic at Kolejowa 1 Street is a 6-minute walk from Warszawa Zachodnia (West) Station.
- Łódź: by train to Warszawa Zachodnia approximately 1 hour 20 minutes; qualification and procedure require two visits, follow-up the next day – many patients stay overnight in Warsaw.
- Radom, Siedlce, Płock, Ciechanów: 1–1.5 hours; for a morning appointment, qualification can be completed in one day.
- Both eyes in one session mean one procedure and one follow-up the next day.
Directions, parking, and accommodation: patients from outside Warsaw.
Questions about lens exchange in Warsaw
How much does refractive lens exchange cost in Warsaw?
PLN 11,000 per eye with a premium implant – spherical, toric, or Customized, no extra charge for astigmatism. Qualification examination: PLN 400. Installment payments possible (Santander Consumer Bank).
How to schedule a qualification appointment in Warsaw?
Online on the Schedule an appointment – Warsaw page or by phone at +48 22 120 16 90. The examination at Kolejowa 1 takes approximately 90 minutes.
Who is lens exchange for?
Typically for individuals over 45–50 years old, where presbyopia accompanies a refractive error, and for high hyperopia. For high myopia before approximately 55 years of age, we usually recommend ICL lenses.
Will I be able to read without glasses after the procedure?
Depends on the implant. Trifocal lenses usually provide independence from glasses at all distances; with EDOF, some patients use weak reading glasses for fine print.
Can cataracts develop after lens exchange?
No. The implant does not cloud. The lens capsule may cloud (secondary cataract) – this is removed with a several-minute YAG laser procedure.
How does lens exchange differ from cataract surgery?
Technically, it’s the same procedure. For cataracts, we replace a clouded lens; for RLE, a clear one, to correct refractive error and presbyopia.
Are both eyes operated on the same day?
Standardly yes, in one session, each eye as a separate procedure. Upon request, we operate on them at separate times – which is why the price is given per eye.
How many visits to Warsaw should be planned?
Usually qualification, the day of the procedure, and a follow-up the next day at Kolejowa 1; two follow-ups are included in the package.
When can I return to work and drive?
Vision improves in the first few days; office work can usually be resumed after a few days. You will not drive home after the procedure, and the decision about driving is made at the follow-up appointment.
Who performs the procedure in Warsaw?
Personally Dr. med. Victor Derhartunian, FEBO, FWCRS – from qualification to follow-up appointments.
Contact and directions · Book an appointment
Related Topics
RLE – details · EDOF lenses · Presbyopia · Cataract
Content fact-checked by Dr. med. univ. (Vienna) Victor Derhartunian, FEBO, FWCRS – specialist in refractive surgery. Last verified: October 5, 2026.
Sources
- Alió JL, Grzybowski A, Romaniuk D. Refractive lens exchange in modern practice: when and when not to do it? Eye Vis (Lond) 2014;1:10. doi:10.1186/s40662-014-0010-2
- de Silva SR, Evans JR, Kirthi V, Ziaei M, Leyland M. Multifocal versus monofocal intraocular lenses after cataract extraction. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016;12:CD003169. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003169.pub4
- Ripandelli G, Scassa C, Parisi V, Gazzaniga D, D’Amico DJ, Stirpe M. Cataract surgery as a risk factor for retinal detachment in very highly myopic eyes. Ophthalmology 2003;110(12):2355–2361. doi:10.1016/S0161-6420(03)00819-4
How to reach the clinic in Warsaw
Kolejowa 1 Street, 01-217 Warsaw – Wola, next to West Railway Station.
Phone: +48 22 120 16 90 · Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Bus: Kolejowa stop approximately 110 m from the entrance – less than two minutes on foot.
- Train: Warszawa Zachodnia station approximately 420 m, or a 6-minute walk. You can also get there by WKD commuter rail.
- Tram: Szpital Wolski stop approximately 560 m.
- Long-distance buses: Dworzec Autobusowy Zachodni (Western Bus Station) approximately 700 m.
- By car: underground parking approximately 240 m away.
Other Procedures in Warsaw
In the same clinic, we also perform:
Laser vision correction
Trans-PRK, FemtoLASIK, SmartSight – from PLN 10,000 for a pair of eyes
Phakic ICL Lenses
when laser is not enough: refractive errors up to -18 dpt, 11,000 PLN per eye
Cataract Surgery
removal of clouded lens with premium implant
Keratoconus Treatment
cross-linking, CAIRS rings, diagnostics
Presbyopia Treatment
PresbyMAX, EDOF lenses, monovision
