You have probably heard from someone (perhaps even from an old-school doctor) that cataract surgery (i.e., cataracta matura) requires waiting until the lens becomes “mature” or “hard”? The truth is that this is one of those harmful myths that, fortunately, modern medicine has discredited once and for all. Why did people think this way? Because in the past, cataract removal was a difficult, painful, and risky operation. But those days are gone! Today, at Swisslaser clinics in Warsaw and Krakow, we have such advanced technology that we remove cataracts quickly, painlessly, and almost safely, even in their early stages. Our goal? To restore your full quality of life and crystal-clear vision before the cataract causes unnecessary problems. Why wait until you are seeing as if through fog? Learn more about cataract treatment.
What will you learn from the text below?
- Is waiting for a mature cataract necessary today? Absolutely not! Modern medicine firmly rejects this approach because it carries too great a risk of complications.
- What are the greatest risks associated with delaying cataract surgery? A mature, hardened lens can trigger a dangerous increase in intraocular pressure, which in extreme cases leads to glaucoma and vision loss.
- What level of visual acuity decline already requires surgery? You do not need to wait until you stop seeing! We proceed when vision drops to 30-40% or when this deterioration simply begins to interfere with your daily life.
- What is the difference between an NFZ procedure and a procedure at a private facility? If you choose NFZ, you will receive a standard monofocal lens; at a private clinic, however, you have access to PREMIUM lenses, which correct virtually all refractive errors.
- Can cataract surgery simultaneously correct refractive errors? Yes, this is a brilliant feature! During cataract removal, we can correct myopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia.
Do you need to wait until the cataract matures? Modern approach to cataract treatment
Why should you not wait for a mature cataract?
Forget about waiting! Waiting is not only unnecessary for you, but also dangerous. When the clouded lens becomes thick and hard, it becomes a real threat.
- Risk of complications in the mature stage of cataract: The hard, rigid lens literally “swells,” increasing intraocular pressure.
- Increased intraocular pressure and glaucoma: This can block fluid outflow (angle-closure), leading to acute glaucoma. And glaucoma, as you well know, damages the optic nerve irreversibly.
- Surgical difficulties and consequences of old methods: In the past, doctors had difficulty removing such a hard lens. They had to literally “tear it out,” which often damaged the delicate structures of the eye.
- Condemning the patient to thick glasses: After such invasive procedures, the patient had to wear one pair of thick glasses for distance and another for near vision—because we simply did not have good implants at that time.
- Risk of the hypermature stage: The worst-case scenario? Waiting until the cataract progresses to the hypermature stage. At that point, the lens begins to liquefy, the nucleus descends, and this…
- Irreversible blindness: This is a direct path to irreversible vision loss. Is it worth taking such a risk?
Modern cataract surgery – fast and safe
Today, cataract removal is routine. It is fast, painless, and almost 100% successful. Remember: the earlier, the better!
- New approach to surgical qualification:
- Maximum visual acuity decline (30-40%): We do not wait for minimal vision! If vision drops to 30-40%, this is the point at which we should operate on you.
- Indication for surgery in the early stage: You have early-stage cataract, but you already feel it is interfering with your driving? Or with your work? That is already sufficient indication. For us, your quality of life is what matters!
- Modern cataract removal methods: We perform minimally invasive procedures that are safe for the eye.
- Phacoemulsification of cataract (ultrasound): This is the standard, which involves fragmenting the clouded lens with ultrasound and aspirating it through a minimal incision (1.5–3 mm).
- High-precision femtosecond laser surgery: This, in turn, is absolute high-tech! The laser itself creates micro-incisions and pre-fragments the lens, reducing the procedure time to 10-15 minutes and minimizing any intervention.
Dr. Victor Derhartunian explains: “There is absolutely no medical reason to wait for a mature cataract. Today, surgery is not the end of the road, but a new beginning. Thanks to modern phacoemulsification and PREMIUM implants, we can not only remove the opacity but simultaneously eliminate all other refractive errors, offering the patient vision better than ever before.”
Lens selection – personalized vision after surgery
After removing the clouded lens, we implant an artificial one. And this is where the magic happens—this is the moment when you decide how you want to see for the rest of your life!
- NFZ standard vs. PREMIUM lenses:
- Limitations of monofocal lens (NFZ): If you choose NFZ, you will receive a monofocal lens. You will see sharply either at distance (excellent for driving) or at near (great for reading), but you will always need glasses for the other activity.
- Advantages of PREMIUM lenses: By choosing a private facility, you have access to the full range of PREMIUM lenses (multifocal, EDOF, toric). These lenses provide you with very good visual acuity for distance, near (35-40 cm), and intermediate distances (60-90 cm). You can completely say goodbye to glasses!
- Additional benefits of PREMIUM lenses:
- Protection against harmful light (UV and blue light filters): PREMIUM lenses often have built-in UV filters and blue light filters.
- Reduction of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) risk: These filters act like sunglasses from the inside—they protect the retina and reduce the risk of developing AMD, which is the leading cause of blindness in older adults.
- Correction of other refractive errors during cataract surgery:
- Correction of myopia and hyperopia: Of course, the new lens automatically corrects your original refractive error.
- Correction of astigmatism and presbyopia: This is precisely the remarkable opportunity! Toric lenses correct astigmatism, and multifocal lenses correct presbyopia. You can address all vision problems in one procedure! In such situations, when presbyopia is present, we consider methods such as Monovision or Refractive Lens Exchange.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions
Is cataract surgery painful?
No. We perform the procedure under topical anesthesia (using drops). The patient feels touch but not pain or discomfort. It is truly a gentle procedure.
How long is the recovery period after cataract surgery?
Vision improvement occurs almost immediately, and you achieve full acuity within a few days. Most patients return to normal activities after 2-3 days.
What is the difference between NFZ surgery and a procedure with a PREMIUM lens?
The key is the quality and functionality of the implanted lens. NFZ provides a monofocal lens—you correct one distance. PREMIUM lenses (available privately) allow you to correct vision at all distances and simultaneously correct astigmatism.
Can cataract recur?
No. We remove your natural, clouded lens and replace it with an artificial implant. The implant does not become clouded. Occasionally, secondary cataract (posterior capsule opacification) may occur, but we address this quickly and painlessly with a laser.
Can I have both cataract and presbyopia corrected simultaneously?
Yes! This is precisely the beauty of cataract surgery in the PREMIUM version. By selecting the appropriate lens (e.g., multifocal), you resolve the cataract problem and simultaneously correct presbyopia.
