The lens is one of the natural lenses of the eye, located behind the pupil and iris. Light rays pass through it, refract, and focus on the retina. The lens of a healthy eye is completely transparent. This condition is ensured by the protein compounds that make up the cells of the natural lens. Like other tissues in the body, the lens is subject to structural changes. However, it has no blood vessels, lymphatic channels, or nerves. This organ receives nutrients from the fluid contained in a special capsule that surrounds it. If the chemical composition of the fluid changes, nutrients are no longer supplied, and the lens becomes cloudy. As a result of this process, a person's vision gradually deteriorates, and they cannot distinguish small elements of an image, especially at dusk. Contrast sensitivity also deteriorates, and colors become dull.
When opacities form on the periphery of the lens, cataracts are asymptomatic. If the changes affect the central optical zone, the quality of vision deteriorates sharply.
If cataracts are not detected in time, they can lead to vision loss in later stages of development. Lens clouding is an irreversible process. Therefore, it is important to diagnose cataracts as early as possible.

The danger of cataracts lies in their long asymptomatic course. In the early stages, symptoms of lens opacity can be mistaken for signs of other diseases. Cataract manifestations can vary and depend on both the type of disease and the individual characteristics of a person's vision. Most often, patients notice the following symptoms:

• deterioration of visual acuity;
• yellow tint to visible objects;
• double vision;
• feeling of haze or fog before the eyes;
• rainbow circles around light sources;
• decreased night vision;
• increased sensitivity to bright light;
• loss of color saturation — objects become more faded and lose contrast;
• the boundaries of surrounding objects appear blurred;
• glasses do not improve vision quality as they used to.

If you notice these symptoms, it is important to consult an ophthalmologist for diagnosis of your eye condition and timely detection of changes in the lens. This will allow for a correct diagnosis and necessary surgical intervention if required.

There is only one effective way to get rid of cataracts—surgical phacoemulsification with replacement of the lens with an artificial lens. Cataract surgery is considered the “gold standard” in ophthalmic surgery and one of the most common types of implant surgery.
In clinics, cataract treatment is performed using advanced technology — ultrasonic phacoemulsification, including femtosecond laser guidance.
Cataract removal with intraocular lens replacement is performed in one day under local drop anesthesia. Hospitalization is not required.
The high degree of safety of the operation allows treatment to be performed on patients of all ages.
The operation lasts about 15-20 minutes. Immediately after its completion, the patient can see well. After a recovery period, which takes from several days to two weeks, adaptation occurs and vision becomes sharp, bright, and contrasting again.

In the early stages of cataract development, patients may not even notice changes in their vision. The gradual deterioration in image quality can take years, which is precisely the risk of cataracts.
Only an ophthalmologist can make a diagnosis based on the results of a complete examination of the eye.
The key method for detecting cataracts is biomicroscopy of the eye using a slit lamp. The doctor determines the degree of visual acuity, measures intraocular pressure, and examines the visual fields and the fundus.
Another mandatory method of preoperative examination for cataracts is biometry. This highly informative diagnostic method allows you to accurately determine the stage of cataract development and other parameters.

Anesthesia. The anesthesiologist instills anesthetic drops into the patient's eye to relieve pain. The process is comfortable for the patient.
Removal of the clouded lens. The doctor makes an incision in the cornea measuring just 1.8 mm. The lens is softened using ultrasound, turning it into an emulsion. It is then removed from the capsule that contained the lens using a special suction device.
Implantation. An injector with a rolled-up intraocular lens is inserted through the same minimal incision into the capsule. The artificial lens is equipped with special support devices called “tentacles.”
Intraocular lens installation. Inside the capsule, the flexible lens unfolds and is securely fixed with the help of “tentacles.” After that, light rays are refracted through the new lens, and the person can see well again. This completes the operation. The micro-access is self-sealing.

After cataract surgery, patients are prescribed medication to reduce discomfort and prevent complications. Ophthalmologists may recommend:

• broad-spectrum antibiotics to prevent inflammation;
• anti-inflammatory drugs (hormonal and non-steroidal);
• drops to accelerate regeneration processes;
• moisturizers.

The recovery plan after surgical treatment of cataracts is individual and may be adjusted depending on the clinical situation.

Patients notice improved vision immediately after the procedure. However, for the first few minutes, they may experience pain in the eye, tearing, stinging, a foreign body sensation, and headache. This is a completely normal reaction of the body and should not be cause for alarm. Visual function is restored within 24 hours.
The patient remains in the clinic for several hours under the supervision of specialists to allow for adaptation. After examination by the attending ophthalmic surgeon, the patient may return home accompanied by a loved one. It is advisable to plan in advance who will drive you home. It is also recommended to wear sunglasses immediately after the operation and continue to use them throughout the recovery period.

Cataract treatment with artificial lens implantation is usually well tolerated by people of all ages. The recovery period takes from two weeks to a month, depending on individual characteristics.
During this time, ophthalmologists at the Excimer Clinic recommend following these rules:

• Avoid touching, rubbing, or applying pressure to the operated eye.
• Protect your eyes from infection by avoiding exposure to low and high temperatures. Try to refrain from visiting baths, saunas, swimming pools, crowded public places, and swimming in open water.
• Limit physical activity: do not lift heavy objects, avoid heavy physical labor, especially involving bending your head.
• Sleep mainly on your back. If you sleep on your side, try to avoid lying on the side of the operated eye; it is advisable to keep your head elevated.
• Be careful when washing your hair: make sure that no water gets into your eyes.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages, as they can cause an increase in blood pressure and disrupt metabolism in the eye tissues.

These measures will help you recover faster after surgery and avoid possible complications.

Cataracts develop gradually, and it can take several years from the initial stage (when clouding is observed around the periphery of the lens and does not affect the central area) to complete loss of transparency. However, as soon as clouding develops in the central visual area, vision begins to deteriorate significantly. Previously, to achieve the best treatment results, it was necessary to wait until the cataract matured, in other words, until the patient was almost completely blind, which meant giving up their usual lifestyle. Now, cataracts no longer have to ruin your life.

Many people still believe that there is no need to rush into cataract treatment. This opinion is dangerous to your health! In addition to serious visual discomfort, developed cataracts carry the risk of irreversible vision loss. The lens not only becomes cloudy, but also increases in size, hindering the circulation of fluid inside the eye. As a result, intraocular pressure increases, and so-called secondary glaucoma develops, leading to gradual atrophy of the optic nerve. Visual signals stop reaching the brain, and without surgery, vision can be lost forever.

Patients often worry: is it possible to remove cataracts from very elderly people? Of course, yes. Age does not affect the decision to remove a cataract. Local drip anesthesia used during cataract phacoemulsification eliminates excessive stress on the cardiovascular system and the body as a whole and allows patients of all age groups to be operated on. So, the youngest patient of the Excimer clinic, who had a cataract removed, was only 5 months old, and the oldest was 102 years old. Cataract treatment does not require a hospital stay, which is important for the elderly: they do not experience the stress associated with hospitalization. Vision returns quickly, and the person does not need special additional care during the rehabilitation period.