Cataract in Brief
- Cataract is a progressive clouding of the eye’s natural lens – the most common treatable cause of vision deterioration after the age of 60.
- The only effective treatment is surgery: replacing the clouded lens with an artificial implant (10–20 minutes, outpatient procedure).
- With a Premium implant (11,000 PLN per eye), refractive errors and presbyopia can also be permanently corrected.
- We perform procedures in Warsaw and Krakow – patients from Małopolska have the entire treatment pathway locally in Krakow.
- Full clinical guide: Cataract – Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
Imagine that one day the world starts to lose its colors. Your favorite painting becomes faded, and driving after dark becomes an increasing challenge. This is how cataract works – an insidious disease that slowly and imperceptibly steals the sharpness of your vision. At Swisslaser, we know how much this can affect your life. That’s why we want to take you on a short journey that explains what cataract is and how, thanks to modern medicine, you can regain full vision. This is not a farewell to good eyesight; it’s an invitation to a better future.
What will you learn from the text below?
- What is cataract and what forms does it take? We will show you that it is not just a disease of older people. You will learn how to recognize its different types – from acquired to congenital.
- Who should be wary? We will discover what factors, from diseases to lifestyle, put you at risk and what you can do about it.
- What are the first warning signs? We will highlight those subtle symptoms that often escape your attention, but which are crucial for acting quickly.
- What does cataract treatment look like in the 21st century? We will describe innovative treatment methods that make surgery a quick and comfortable procedure today, not something to be feared.
- Is cataract surgery painful? We will debunk myths once and for all. Discover that it is a painless procedure, and recovery is quicker than you think.
Types of Cataract
Acquired (Senile) Cataract
This is the most common form of cataract, and its history begins slowly. We call it cataracta acquisita, because it is the ‘silent thief’ that gradually steals our quality of vision over the years. It can be a natural process, but lifestyle and external factors, such as smoking or excessive sun exposure, can accelerate its development.
Congenital Cataract
Surprising, isn’t it? Cataract can affect even the youngest. Cataracta congenita occurs in children, often due to genetic factors or maternal illnesses during pregnancy. That’s why it’s so important for specialists to diagnose and treat it quickly, before it can affect the development of a child’s vision.
Complicated and Drug-Induced Cataract
Imagine one disease leading to another. This is the case with complicated cataract (cataracta complicata), which appears as a result of other eye conditions or systemic diseases. Sometimes medications are also to blame – for example, steroids. That’s why, before we do anything, we need to thoroughly understand your health history, so that the treatment is tailor-made.
Risk Factors
Systemic and Metabolic Diseases
Have you wondered if you have a higher chance of developing cataract? If you suffer from diabetes or hypertension, you should be more vigilant. Diseases such as atopic dermatitis or rarer genetic syndromes also increase the risk.
Lifestyle Factors
Do your habits affect your eyes? Of course! Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity – all these are not good for your vision. Remember also to protect yourself from UV radiation – good sunglasses are an investment in the future.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Early Symptoms of Degenerative Cataract
The beginnings are insidious. You might think it’s fatigue, but if the world looks like you’re looking through a fogged-up window, and colors are fading, it’s time for an alarm. If you have trouble driving at night or see better when there’s no sun, don’t wait – book an appointment.
How is acquired cataract diagnosed?
Diagnosis at Swisslaser is simple and painless. As Dr. Victor Derhartunian, founder of EyeLaser clinics in Vienna and Zurich, and our close partner, says:
“Most cases are clear just by looking at the clouded lens. Early intervention is key to success. By acting quickly, we can stop the progression of the disease and save your vision before it’s too late.”
Cataract Treatment
Treatment Methods
Cataract Phacoemulsification
This is currently the gold standard of treatment. Does it sound scary? Not at all! It involves using ultrasound to break up the clouded lens and remove it through a tiny incision. A new, foldable lens is inserted in its place, which unfolds itself in the eye. It’s a short, painless procedure, and the return to normalcy is rapid.
FAQ
Does cataract surgery hurt? No. The entire procedure is painless because we use local anesthesia in the form of drops.
How quickly will I recover after the procedure? Surprisingly quickly! Many people return to their daily activities the very next day. Full visual acuity stabilizes within a few weeks.
Can cataract return? A removed cataract does not return. Sometimes, however, clouding of the lens capsule may occur, but this is a minor issue. It can be easily removed with a quick laser procedure.
Do I need to treat cataract if it doesn’t bother me? Absolutely. Cataract progresses, and ignoring it can lead to irreversible vision damage. The sooner you decide on treatment, the better the results and greater safety.
What are the first symptoms of cataract? Vision like looking through a dirty window or fog, worse vision at dusk and when driving at night, glare from headlights, fading colors, and increasingly frequent changes in glasses. Sometimes, paradoxically, near vision improves – this is the so-called “second sight,” which does not last long.
Can cataract be cured? Yes, and permanently – but only surgically. There are no drops or medications that reverse lens clouding. Phacoemulsification surgery takes about 15–20 minutes, and the clouded lens is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens that does not wear out and does not require replacement.
What causes cataract? Most often, it’s age – lens proteins lose transparency in the natural aging process. This is accelerated by diabetes, smoking, UV radiation, long-term steroid use, eye injuries, and high myopia. Congenital and traumatic cataracts also occur in young people.
Which is worse, cataract or glaucoma? Cataract is curable: surgery restores vision. Glaucoma irreversibly damages the optic nerve – treatment only slows progression, and lost visual field cannot be regained. Therefore, after the age of 40, it is worth checking eye pressure and the optic nerve every one to two years.
Watch videos about procedures at Swisslaser
We want our patients to feel fully informed and confident in their decision. That’s why we have prepared a series of short videos that show what individual procedures look like and how to prepare for a visit.
After watching the videos, we invite you to book an appointment, during which we will discuss your individual situation and answer all your questions.
There’s no need to fear cataract – cataract surgery is today the most frequently performed and one of the safest surgical procedures in the world. The key decision is not “whether to operate,” but “which lens to choose” – because it is with this lens that the patient will see the world for the rest of their life.
Dr. med. Victor Derhartunian, FEBO, FWCRS
Next step: book a qualification examination (PLN 400, Warsaw or Krakow) – or first check the full price list.
Content medically reviewed by Dr. med. univ. (Vienna) Victor Derhartunian, FEBO, FWCRS · Last updated: October 2, 2026
