Cataract Surgery

Restoring Clear Vision

The lens of the eye, located just behind the pupil, acts as a natural lens that provides refraction to the eye. Over time, due to age, dietary habits, and genetic factors, eyes lose their transparency, their refractivity decreases, and vision may weaken. If that is the case, cataract surgery may be helpful to restore the eyes to their former transparency and provide a clearer vision.

What is cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery is a process of replacing the glassy and degenerated lens in the eyes with an artificial lens. The original lens in the eyes is almost completely made up of protein and water. Over time, this protein level decreases, and the lens becomes turbid and yellow. As a result, cataracts cause the light coming into the eye not to refract, resulting in blurred or double vision and floating halos. Thanks to the transparent and artificial intraocular lens implanted in the eye during surgery, patients can see as comfortably and smoothly as before.

Who can prefer cataract surgery?

As humans age, glassy and hardened lenses become inevitable. Therefore, cataracts can especially be preferred by people who experience blurred vision after 50-60 years of age. However, cataract surgery may be necessary for the elderly, people with diabetes, persons whose eyes have been damaged by a foreign object, or those who have been on cortisone therapy for a long time.

What are the benefits of cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery provides several benefits beyond what you might think:

Post-cataract surgery, your vision will become steadier and more clear.
Your night vision will improve as there will be less glare in your eyes.
You will see colors more vividly and clearly after the artificial lens is implanted in your eyes.
Farsightedness caused by presbyopia will be treated after cataract surgery.

Preparation before cataract surgery

To be able to undergo the procedure, you must first make an appointment with your surgeon. While your surgeon is providing you with medical consultation, explain in detail the information about your medications and medical history. During the appointment, your surgeon will measure visual impairment in your eye, allowing for determining the type of lens based on whether you are nearsighted or farsighted. After that, your surgeon may prescribe eye drops to against infections or diseases one week before the surgery.

If you are taking any medication that may cause bleeding before surgery, your surgeon may ask you to stop taking this medication for a certain period. If you wear glasses in your daily life, you can also listen to the cataract surgery side effects and post-operative healing process from the doctor in advance. Finally, you should make sure that your eyelids and eyelashes are completely clean before surgery.

How is cataract surgery performed?

First, a numbing drop is put in your eye so that you do not feel pain and have a comfortable surgery. An incision is made in your cornea with a laser or a blade and the cataract lens is removed. An artificial lens is then inserted through the incision and the procedure is completed by covering the eye with a bandage to protect it.

Since cataract surgery takes an average of 15-20 minutes for each eye, the operation is performed while you are conscious and you will be discharged soon after the procedure is completed. If there are cataracts in both eyes, the procedures are performed in order. A numbing gel and specially prepared eye drops are applied to numb the pain and ensure a smooth procedure.

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Types of cataract surgery

There are two applied cataract surgery types:

Phacoemulsification
Extracapsular surgery

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Phacoemulsification

During surgery, the surgeon first makes a small incision in the cornea of the eye. The glassy and thickened lens is broken and removed using ultrasound waves. An artificial and transparent lens is implanted in its place through the incision. The eye is protected and closed with a bandage without the need for any stitches.

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Extracapsular surgery

During extracapsular cataract surgery, a larger incision is made in the upper part of the eye, the cataractous lens is suctioned out and an intraocular lens (GIL) is inserted through the opening. After the eye is covered with a bandage, the healing process begins.

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Cataract surgery before and after

When the post-operative healing process is completed, complaints of visual impair are reduced. The patient will not feel the artificial lens in the eye and there will be no visible surgical scar in and around the eye after the procedure.

Recovery after cataract surgery

After the procedure, your surgeon will provide you with the necessary instructions. First, your surgeon will prescribe a protective eye drop for your eye and may advise you to wear a bandage or glasses to protect your eye. You must avoid heavy lifting and bending activities and refrain from touching and scratching your eye for a few weeks after the procedure. If you are wondering “How long does it take to recover from cataract surgery?”, the average recovery time is four weeks.

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Why choose Turkey for cataract surgery?

If you are considering undergoing cataract surgery in Turkey, you can be sure that your expectations will be met with sensible opportunities. Since cataract surgery is performed quickly and does not require hospitalization, you can have the operation quickly in Turkey and return to your daily life. Moreover, with its rich historical assets and touristic destinations, Turkey offers you an opportunity to turn your medical treatment process into a forever memory. The eye is a sensitive organ, thus it is natural for patients to want to feel safe during the procedure. Cataract surgery in Turkey gives you this assurance with its accredited hospitals and world-class doctors.

Cost of cataract surgery in Turkey

We cannot give an exact figure about the cost of cataract surgery in Turkey because the cost of operation varies depending on several factors. The clinic’s conditions, whether the cataract is in one eye or both eyes, the competence of the doctor who will perform the surgery, and the differences in the tests that will be requested for the surgery lead to changes in cost. However, Turkey has more affordable prices than Europe and many other developed countries.

Cataract Surgery in Turkey

Candidates:	Persons aged 50+, persons with diabetes, and persons who use cortisone
Procedure:	Replacement of cataractous lens with artificial lens
Duration:	15-20 minutes for each eye
Stay:	No hospitalization

Anesthesia:	Local
Recovery:	Up to 4 weeks
Exercise:	No exercise until full recovery
Scars:	Swelling, infection, bleeding, etc.
Pain:	Mild to moderate

FAQ

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How Long Does Cataract Surgery Take?

Cataract surgery takes approximately 15-20 minutes for a single eye. With the process of numbing the eye, this duration can go up to 30 minutes.

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How Long Does Cataract Surgery Last?

Cataract surgery lasts throughout your entire life with permanent lenses.

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Will Cataract Surgery Correct Astigmatism?

Since the eye lens will be replaced, astigmatism caused by the curvature of the eye lens can also be corrected with cataract surgery.

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Does Medicare Cover Cataract Surgery?

The answer to this question depends on the insurance policy of the country and the clinic where you will have the surgery. However, it is recommended that you should consult your clinic for confirmation.