A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. This lens should be clear as the eye’s natural crystalline lens refracts light rays that come into the eye, to help us see.  Opacification of the natural lens leads to a clouded vision and generally, things look blurry and less colorful with a cataract.

Cataracts can be congenital and acquired.

Possible causes of congenital cataracts include: infections during pregnancy, traumatic childbirth, prolonged use of hormonal medications, substance and/or alcohol abuse, etc.

Most acquired cataracts are related to aging. The causes can also be:

• Blunt or penetrating trauma;
• General health conditions (diabetes, hypothyroidism, etc.);
• Metabolic disorders;
• Inflammatory and degenerative processes of the eye;
• Long-term steroid use;
• Exposure to toxic substances, ultraviolet radiation.

Excessive consumption of tobacco and alcohol increases the risk of cataract development.

Symptoms associated with cataract include:

• Decreased visual acuity, blurred (cloudy) vision, double vision;
• Change in color perception;
• The frequent need to change prescription for glasses;
• The progression of the disease is characterized by a gradual decrease in visual acuity;
• In some cases, the so-called false, temporary myopia appears (an elderly people, who used to see well at a far distance and had difficulty reading, at some point they can read without glasses while the far distance vision worsens).

The eye’s natural crystalline lens refracts light rays that come into the eye to help us see clearly. Cataract affects the light refraction process and hence, the vision gets blurry

If cataract affects your daily activities (driving, reading, watching TV, working) surgery is recommended during which the cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced by the clear Intraocular Lens (IOL).

Cataract can’t be treated with eye drops or other medications (tablets, capsules). Hence, we don’t recommend them.

Surgery is still the only treatment option for cataract.

The previously existing belief that the surgery should be done only when cataract is “mature” is wrong. Doing surgery at an early stage of the disease is a prerequisite for a safe and successful outcome.

Cataract surgery requires a thorough eye examination. We carefully evaluate the entire eye, starting from the anterior segment and moving to the posterior segment. Accurate data of the examinations are required to calculate IOL dioptric power precisely, of course, taking into account the patient’s requirements.

The gold standard of cataract surgery is so-called “sutureless” operation – ultrasound phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. The surgery is done on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia and lasts only 10-15 minutes. State-of-art medical technologies are used during the surgery including ZEISS and ALCON latest surgical devices. 

During the “ sutureless ” cataract surgery, through a 2-2.5 mm incision the cloudy lens is emulsified using ultrasonic energy (Fig. 1); through the same incision, a foldable intraocular lens is implanted using a special device (Fig. 2) and it is positioned behind the iris to replace the emulsified (clouded) lens (Fig. 3).

Cataract Phacoemulsification with Intraocular Lens (IOL) Implantation

The postoperative rehabilitation period is quite short, after which the patient can resume his usual daily activities. During 4-5 weeks following the surgery the patient follows doctor’s prescription and recommendations.

Based on the patient’s profession and requirements, the IOLs of various different refractive power are used. The final decision regarding this question is made based on mutual agreement of the surgeon and the patient. The IOL usually remains in the eye for a lifetime and doesn’t require the replacement.

Only highest-quality intraocular lenses are used in the clinic „Akhali Mzera“.

A Standard Monofocal intraocular lens can restore vision either at far or near distance, depending on the patient's professional and everyday requirements.

Premium Intraocular Lenses:

An advanced optical characteristics of the Aspheric Monofocal intraocular lens ensures high quality of vision either at far or near distance.

Toric Monofocal intraocular lens restores the vision decreased due to the cataract either at far or near distance and as well corrects the astigmatism.

Advanced optical properties of the Bifocal intraocular lens ensures high quality of vision at far and intermediate (70-80 cm) distance, that is particulary important for people who work at a computer distance for a long time or their professional activities are related to the driving.

Multifocal intraocular lens provides the patient with the high quality of vision at all distances - far, intermediate and near by correcting the presbyopia as well.

Unique optical design of the Multifocal-Toric intraocular lens ensures high quality of vision at all distances - far, intermediate and near by restoring the vision decreased due to the cataract and by correcting astigmatism and presbyopia as well.

Around 12-24 months following the cataract surgery (especially in young and middle-aged patients) often develops a so-called „secondary cataract“ which causes decrease of a visual acuity. In this case the opacified posterior capsule behind the IOL is cleared using YAG-Laser, the procedure is performed in the ophthalmologist’s office, lasts only for 2-3 minutes and is absolutely painless and highly effective.

Secondary Cataract (left) and its treatment with YAG-Laser (right)

Therefore, if the reason of the decreased visual acuity is cataract, our clinic offers cutting-edge technologies for the diagnosis and treatment with a wide variety of the intraocular lenses. After a complete ophthalmic examination, you can discuss with your doctor/surgeon all the relevant questions and make a decision regarding the particular type of the IOL that is best for you based on the condition of the eye and matches your everday activities and professional needs.