Cataract is the disease which manifests itself by the clouding of the crystalline and leading to decreased vision; leaving this untreated, may cause complications that can lead to blindness.

Cataracts most commonly affect older people and are the leading cause of impaired vision throughout the world. It is estimated that over half of all people over 65 have some cataract development in one or both eyes.(Source: NHS UK)

The only effective treatment against cataract is SURGERY, which involves replacing the damaged lens with a new, artificial lens.

The Cataract Surgery

In most cases, a cataract will continue to develop and the only way to restore vision is by having surgery to remove the cataract. Cataract surgery is one of the most common and quickest forms of surgery. Many people are able to return to their usual daily routine 24 hours after having the operation.

The procedure to remove a cataract usually lasts 30-45 minutes, and vision is improved almost immediately. After cataract operation, most people will need to wear glasses for either near or distance vision, or both. However, once these have been fitted, about 95% of people will have normal vision.

The price for cataract surgery in Romania is up to 70% lower than in UK and Ireland, and you'll end up saving up to 50% on your medical treatment and holiday abroad.

If you have a cataract that is getting in the way of your daily activities and affecting your ability to drive or read, you may need to have cataract surgery. Typical signs are blurred vision or dazzle from lights (such as oncoming car headlights).

In the past, people with cataracts were encouraged to wait until the condition was so bad that they could hardly see. However, now surgery to remove a cataract can be done at any stage of development. (Source: NHS UK)

Replacement lenses

When the cloudy lens is removed during cataract surgery, it is replaced with an artificial, clear, plastic lens. This is called an intraocular implant, or intraocular lens (IOL).

During cataract surgery, the clouded natural lens of the eye is removed and an artificial lens is implanted to allow clear vision. The standard artificial intraocular lens has no focusing capability. Use of an accommodating intraocular lens is intended to allow focusing on near and distant objects, so that the patient may not require reading spectacles. Current evidence suggests there are no major safety concerns associated with the implantation of accommodating intraocular lenses during cataract surgery. There is evidence of short-term efficacy in correcting visual acuity but there is inadequate evidence that the procedure achieves accommodation. (Source: NICE UK)

After the surgery, the patient will have improved distance vision (reserved opinion in the case of existing previous disease of the retina or the optic nerve), but will however be more likely to wear glasses for close-view such as reading glasses. Like any other surgery, cataract operation has certain risks attached, risks that may be extremely rare, but vital. Thanks to the use of modern techniques, these risks are minimised. Generally speaking specialists relate very few cases of intraocular haemorrhage, corneal damages or ruptures of the crystalline’s posterior capsule as complications of this operation.