You’ve probably heard from someone (perhaps even an old-school doctor) that you need to wait for a cataract (i.e., cataracta matura) to become “mature” or “hard” before surgery? The truth is, this is one of those harmful myths that, fortunately, modern medicine has definitively debunked. Why did people think this? Because once upon a time, cataract removal was a difficult, painful, and risky operation. But those times are over! 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 initial stages. Our goal? To restore your full comfort of life and crystal-clear vision before the cataract causes unnecessary problems. Why wait until you see as if through a 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 strongly rejects this approach, as it carries too high a risk of complications.
- What are the biggest risks associated with delaying cataract surgery? A mature, stiffened lens can cause a dangerous increase in eye pressure, which in extreme cases leads to glaucoma and vision loss.
- What level of vision loss already requires surgery? You don’t have to wait until you can no longer see! We act when vision drops to 30-40% or when this deterioration simply starts to interfere with your daily life.
- What is the difference between an NFZ procedure and a procedure in a private facility? If you choose NFZ, you will receive a standard monofocal lens; in a private clinic, you have access to PREMIUM lenses, which correct virtually all vision defects.
- Can cataract surgery simultaneously correct vision defects? Yes, this is brilliant! While removing the cataract, we can correct myopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia.
Is it necessary to wait for a cataract to mature? The modern approach to cataract treatment
Why should you not wait for a mature cataract?
Forget about waiting! Waiting is not only unnecessary but also dangerous for you. When a cloudy lens becomes thick and hard, it poses a real threat.
- Risk of complications in the mature stage of cataract: A hard, rigid lens literally “swells,” increasing pressure within the eyeball.
- Increase in intraocular pressure and glaucoma: This can block fluid outflow (angle closure), leading to acute glaucoma. And glaucoma, as you well know, irreversibly damages the optic nerve.
- Difficulties and surgical consequences of old methods: In the past, doctors had difficulty removing such a hard lens. They literally had to “extract” it, 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 then.
- Risk of hypermature stage: The worst-case scenario? Waiting until the cataract reaches the hypermature stage. Then the lens begins to liquefy, the nucleus drops, and that…
- Irreversible blindness: This is a direct path to irreversible vision loss. Is it worth such a risk?
Modern Cataract Surgery – Fast and Safe
Today, cataract removal is a routine procedure. It is fast, painless, and almost 100% effective. Remember: the sooner, the better!
- New approach to qualification for surgery:
- Maximum vision loss (30-40%): We do not wait for minimal vision! If vision drops to 30-40%, that is the moment when we should operate on you.
- Indication for surgery in the initial stage: Do you have early cataracts, but already feel it interferes with driving? Or with work? This is already a sufficient indication. Your quality of life matters to us!
- Modern methods of cataract removal: We perform minimally invasive procedures that are safe for the eye.
- Cataract phacoemulsification (ultrasound): This is the standard, which involves breaking up the cloudy 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 performs micro-incisions and pre-breaks up the lens, shortening 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 cloudiness but also eliminate all other vision defects, offering the patient better vision than ever before.”
Lens selection – personalized vision after surgery
After removing the cloudy lens, we implant an artificial one. And this is where the magic happens – this is the moment you decide how you want to see for the rest of your life!
- NFZ Standard vs. PREMIUM Lenses:
- Limitations of a monofocal lens (NFZ): If you choose NFZ, you will receive a monofocal lens. You will see sharply either far away (great for driving) or up close (excellent for reading), but you will always need glasses for the other activity.
- Advantages of PREMIUM lenses: By opting for a private facility, you have access to a full range of PREMIUM lenses (multifocal, EDOF, toric). These lenses give you 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 the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD): These filters act like internal sunglasses – they protect the retina and reduce the risk of developing AMD, which is the leading cause of blindness in older individuals.
- Correction of other vision defects 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 the amazing opportunity! Toric lenses correct astigmatism, and multifocal lenses correct presbyopia. You can address all your vision problems at once! In such situations, if presbyopia is present, we consider methods such as Monovision or Refractive Lens Exchange.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Is cataract surgery painful?
No. The procedure is performed under topical anesthesia (using drops). The patient feels touch but no pain or discomfort. It is a truly gentle procedure.
How long does recovery take after cataract surgery?
Vision improvement occurs almost immediately, and full acuity is achieved within a few days. Most patients return to normal activities within 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 for all distances and simultaneously correct astigmatism.
Can a cataract return?
No. We remove your natural, cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial implant. The implant does not become cloudy. Sometimes secondary cataract (clouding of the lens capsule) may occur, but we address this quickly, painlessly, with a laser.
Can I have cataracts and presbyopia corrected simultaneously?
Yes! This is the beauty of PREMIUM cataract surgery. By choosing the appropriate lens (e.g., multifocal), you solve the cataract problem and simultaneously correct presbyopia.
Where we perform cataract surgery: cataract surgery in Warsaw (ul. Kolejowa 1) · cataract surgery in Krakow (ul. Kluczborska 15/U3) · price list. Qualification, procedure, and follow-ups at the chosen clinic, performed by Dr. med. Victor Derhartunian.
