Cataract Surgery

dr. Muhammed Alkhatib Updated: 27 March، 2025 7 min read

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Cataract surgery is a common and highly effective procedure designed to restore vision in individuals with cataracts. With advances in medical technology and surgical techniques, cataract surgery has become a safe and routine procedure, providing rapid recovery and noticeable improvements in vision for millions of people around the world.

What is a cataract?

The simplest explanation is that the eye’s lens is no longer transparent. The lens is the clear part (crystalline) of the eye that helps focus light in the eye onto a point on the retina that sends signals to the brain to “see” images.

The lens must be clear to visualize an accurate image. As one ages, the lens becomes increasingly cloudy, causing blurry vision, poor night vision, and the inability to see clearly. Cataracts are a common disease and an inevitable condition in old age. However, doctors have identified some factors, such as smoking, exposure to sunlight, diabetes, eye trauma, and medications, such as steroids, that may contribute to cataracts.

In its early stages, people can try to improve their vision by using reading glasses, magnification, and better lighting. However, as cataracts progress, the only way to treat them is to remove the dark lens. According to the Prevent Blindness Organization, more than two million cataract surgeries are performed in the United States each year.

Cataracts are painless and do not make the eye red or teary. Cataracts affect the clarity and contrast in your vision. You should check with your eye doctor if any changes in vision occur. Cataracts occur more frequently in women than in men. Cataracts are the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness worldwide. Cataracts can affect either or both eyes.

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It is a disease that does not cause infection – it does not spread from one eye to another. Cataract surgery is the most common surgical procedure in the world. About 75 million surgeries have been performed in the past three decades. Cataract removal (cataract surgery) is also one of the most successful surgical procedures, with more than 95 percent of patients experiencing no post-operative complications.

Cataract surgery in Turkey

During cataract surgery, the doctor removes the cloudy natural lens and replaces it with an artificial plastic lens. Current lens technology not only enables cataract patients to replace a cloudy lens with a clear plastic lens but also corrects other vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

The cataract surgery process is the same for everyone

The only treatment for cataracts is surgery. As with major surgical procedures, it is performed in an operating room, a sterile environment where most lens replacement procedures are performed under local anesthesia – with eye drops to numb the surface of the eye.

You are awake during the procedure, but your vision will blur.

The nurse may give you some medications to help keep you calm. You may also be put on intravenous fluids and a heart rate monitor.

A drape will be placed around your face so that only the eye being operated on can be seen, and most people feel no pain during the procedure, which usually takes 15 to 30 minutes.

The surgeon makes a small incision in the cornea with either a hand-held blade or a laser machine. In most cases, the incision is so small that no stitches are needed. A small ultrasound probe, a laser, or a combination of the two is used to break up (emulsify) and remove the damaged crystalline lens.

Lens Replacement Surgery In Turkey - Cataract Surgery — Lens Replacement Surgery In Turkey

The new lens is then inserted into the eye where the old cloudy lens was. Once the surgery is complete, the surgeon covers the eye with a bandage to protect it during the healing process. After a short recovery period, you can ask someone to drive you home. There are a few lens options for cataract surgery. Which intraocular lens (IOL) is right for you depends on your lifestyle and vision needs. Your eye doctor should discuss your options and help you choose between types of lenses:

Standard or mono-focal lenses:

These lenses correct only one range of focal vision—either near or far, but not both. The patient will continue to rely on glasses or contact lenses for uncorrected range of vision and astigmatism.

Multifocal or accommodative intraocular lenses:

Designed to give presbyopia and cataract patients clear vision of near and far objects, so you’re less dependent on glasses.

IOLs:

A monofocal lens also treats astigmatism. Toric lenses also help correct distance vision, but you’ll likely need reading glasses.

Monovision IOL:

Two different lenses are used: One to correct near vision in one eye and the other to correct distance vision in the other. The brain coordinates two distances, giving cataract patients vision that reduces the need for glasses of any kind. Before this procedure, your eye doctor will provide you with a trial set of monovision corrective contact lenses to help predict your brain’s ability to coordinate monovision.

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Am I a candidate for cataract surgery with vision-correcting intraocular lenses?

If you are a good candidate for cataract surgery, you are likely a candidate for today’s advanced intraocular vision correction technology.

Your eye doctor should perform a comprehensive eye examination to check the overall health of your eyes, assess whether there are reasons not to have surgery, and identify any risk factors you may have.

As part of your comprehensive eye exam, an examination will be performed to determine how much myopia, hyperopia, and/or astigmatism you have before surgery.

Other measurements will be taken to help your doctor choose the right power IOL and give you the best possible vision after surgery.

Not everyone is a good candidate for vision correction, and choosing certain IOL techniques will increase the cost of cataract surgery since your medical insurance or other insurance plans may not cover the additional cost of advanced IOL implantation. It is important to discuss your options with your surgeon.

Is cataract surgery with vision-correcting intraocular lenses safe?

Cataract surgery is an extremely safe procedure, with approximately 98 percent of cataract surgery performed without serious complications. In fact, a recent study of more than 200,000 Medicare beneficiaries who underwent cataract surgery between 1994 and 2006 found that 99.5 percent of patients had no serious complications after surgery.

Advances in surgical instruments and techniques help reduce the incidence of serious complications from cataract surgery. Cataract surgery involves implanting an artificial lens – called an intraocular lens. Therefore, cataract surgery using the vision-correcting intraocular lens technique carries a low risk, like all cataract surgeries. However, all surgeries carry some degree of risk – even very small ones – and you and your eye surgeon should discuss your procedure in detail to make the best decision for you and your vision.

While complications after cataract surgery are uncommon, the good news is that most can be treated successfully. Your personal medical history and eye health may contribute significantly to lowering your risk of complications.

Risks of cataract surgery include:

Inflammation and/or infection
bleeding
swelling
Retinal detachment
Glaucoma
Vision loss

Possible complications of cataract surgery with vision-correcting IOLs include persistent halos, glare, and blurry vision, specifically from the lens site or the lens itself. It is important to discuss your medical history and, specifically, any eye problems you may have before deciding to have cataract surgery.

We at Bimaristan Center provide the best center to perform this delicate operation. Bimaristan Medical Center remains your first choice for treatment in Turkey.

We direct you to the best expert specialists in all fields. We break the language barrier. Arab specialist doctors will help you communicate with your doctor. We help you book an appointment in the most important and modern hospitals in Turkey. We offer our services to secure a hotel reservation for you and your companions in addition to transportation for transportation. We help you secure a free travel visa.

We provide our services throughout Turkey, so the best place to provide you with treatment is our destination.

We accompany you step by step towards recovery.

Free consultations around the clock.

Do not hesitate to contact us at Bimaristan Family Center in Turkey. On our website, you can read more about amblyopia or lazy eye and the latest treatment methods in Turkey.

Sources:

Harvard Health Publishing

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I have cataract surgery?

Traditionally, cataract surgery is performed when a patient begins to experience vision loss. However, we now also consider subtle changes in vision, such as loss of contrast sensitivity and loss of color perception. You may notice that colors are washed out and also have trouble seeing in low-contrast situations (for example, at night). These are early signs that cataracts are affecting your vision, and you may want to consider surgical removal.

Do my cataracts have to be mature to have them removed?

In the past, cataracts had to be removed in one piece. Now, we use ultrasound and laser technology to break the cataract into smaller pieces for removal—meaning it is better for the lens to be softer (i.e., immature) to aid in the fragmentation process. In fact, the patient’s surgery and recovery time are shorter if the cataract is immature at the time of surgery.

Is cataract surgery painful?

Cataract surgery is not painful at all. Most patients describe a dull sensation of pressure around the eye. In some cases, we may use local anesthesia (given via eye drops).

How long should I wait after cataract surgery before driving?

Most patients can drive within 48 hours after cataract surgery – the general advice is that they can start moving when they feel comfortable doing so. It is a good idea to avoid driving long distances for the first week.

I also recommend wearing sunglasses to reduce the effect of sensitivity to bright lights and sunlight.

When can I resume normal routines, such as cooking or gardening?

Most patients can resume normal household chores such as cooking and gardening within a day or so after cataract extraction – it’s really up to the individual.

However, take care to avoid irritating your eye after cataract surgery (e.g., with dirt or dust, in windy conditions).

We also recommend avoiding heavy lifting and intense homework in the first week after cataract surgery.

When can I go swimming or go back to the gym?

As a general rule, it’s best to avoid swimming for the first month after cataract surgery to reduce the risk of infection. The problem is that swimming pools are often full of viruses and germs that can infect the eye immediately after cataract surgery. Heavy gym exercises are generally not recommended in the first week.

There is no problem using the treadmill or walking.

When will I see the results of cataract surgery?

The visual results of cataract surgery are almost immediate in most cases. However, not all patients and all conditions are the same, so some patients may take longer than others to notice a change.

Your vision tends to fluctuate as your eye heals after cataract surgery but will generally stabilize within one month for most patients. If you have an existing medical condition such as diabetes, you may experience delayed healing after cataract extraction.

I suffer from astigmatism - can this be treated?

Astigmatism is a refractive error that occurs if the cornea or lens of the eye has an irregular curve. People with astigmatism experience blurry vision because light rays are not focused on a single point on the retina. Astigmatism can also occur with nearsightedness or farsightedness.

We now have the ability to correct or reduce astigmatism (and other refractive errors) during cataract surgery. This involves inserting a special lens into the eye during cataract surgery. The severity of the astigmatism before surgery will determine whether we can correct it completely after cataract extraction.

I had herpes in my eye. Can I still remove cataracts?

Once infected, the herpes virus becomes resident in the eye and can be reactivated after cataract surgery. This means that you will need antiviral medication after surgery to prevent any virus-related complications. The medication is usually taken for four weeks after cataract surgery.

I suffer from glaucoma - is it safe to remove cataracts (cataract surgery)?

There is no problem, provided that the glaucoma is under control before cataract surgery.

I have keratoconus - can I have cataract surgery safely?

Patients with keratoconus have improved vision after cataract surgery. In fact, many find that they can get rid of contact lenses completely. One feature of keratoconus is astigmatism and can also be treated during cataract surgery.

Will cataracts return after removal?

Cataract surgery (cataract surgery) is a one-time procedure meaning the cataract itself does not come back. The replacement artificial lens will not become cloudy and will maintain its transparency for life.

However, sometimes, a thin film of scar tissue develops behind the implanted lens after cataract extraction. This membrane is called posterior capsule opacity and can be removed with a quick and painless laser procedure in the office.

I have had a corneal transplant in the past. Is it safe to have cataract surgery?

Patients who have undergone corneal transplants can remove cataracts (cataract surgery) quite safely. However, they should be aware that there is a small risk of the cornea becoming affected after cataract surgery – this can be treated with steroid drops. There is also a small risk that the cornea will become damaged, and a second graft will be needed.

Will I get stitches in my eyes after cataract surgery?

Modern cataract surgery does not routinely require stitches. It is a keyhole procedure, and the main incision is about 2 mm long. The lens is inserted into the eye through a thin tube, and once it is placed inside the eye, it is made of a flexible material that takes the shape of a capsule (lens capsule). Some complex cataract surgery cases may require one or two small stitches. They are removed a few weeks after cataract surgery when the tissues have healed.