I have a cataract and my vision is becoming increasingly blurred.

A cataract is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults. Cataracts occur in 70% of people over the age of 75. A cataract is the result of a natural aging process that causes clouding of the eye’s lens.

Symptoms of cataracts manifest as blurred vision, loss of contrast, glare in bright light, double vision, frequent problems with reading, watching TV, and driving.

Yes, cataracts can also result from trauma, metabolic diseases (diabetes, galactosemia), medication use (corticosteroids), and complications of other eye diseases (uveitis, glaucoma), or they can occur as part of certain syndromes (e.g., Down syndrome).

No, pupils are dilated during the examination, while surgery is performed on a constricted pupil. Therefore, it is recommended to first undergo an examination to determine the best lens choice for you.

At Svjetlost Eye Clinic, you can undergo cataract surgery within one week of your examination.

Before surgery, the patient should have a complete blood count (CBC), blood glucose level measurement, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and an ECG recording.

The lens power calculation is determined using the most precise device called the IOL Master. In cases of dense cataracts, an ultrasound A-scan is also performed, which accurately calculates the lens power.

Phacoemulsification lens extraction (PHACO) with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is the gold standard in cataract surgery. During the procedure, the surgeon makes a very small incision in the eye, through which the clouded natural lens is broken up using ultrasound and removed. A clear, artificial lens is then implanted in its place. Thanks to the minimal incision, the wound heals quickly and does not require sutures. Cataracts can be surgically removed using ultrasound or laser. Laser cataract surgery is considered the new gold standard for cataract operations, offering a less invasive, more individualized procedure with high precision.

When cataract surgery is performed, a lens implant is essential. The clouded natural lens is replaced with a new, clear lens.

After cataract surgery, the eye is usually kept closed until you arrive home. If both eyes are operated on, a protective lens is placed on the eye and the eye is not closed.

Cataract surgery is painless and is performed under local anesthesia using anesthetic drops.

Cataract surgery takes 10–15 minutes.

Cataract surgery carries no health risks and can be safely performed on elderly and ill patients.

The patient goes home just 15 minutes after surgery. If cataracts are present in both eyes, surgery on both eyes can be performed on the same day.

Approximately fifteen minutes after cataract surgery, the patient goes home and should avoid strenuous activities that day. The first examination is performed the following day, followed by a check-up after seven days and after one month, when glasses are prescribed if needed. Just a few days after cataract surgery, the patient can return to work and normal life. It is necessary to take the prescribed therapy (antibiotic/corticosteroid drops and ointment), avoid washing with tap water for the first three days, rubbing the eye, excessive bending, and lifting heavy objects during the first month. Exercise and similar activities can begin 2–3 weeks after surgery, depending on the patient’s age and exercise intensity.

At Svjetlost Eye Clinic, cataract surgeries are performed by ophthalmologists: Prof. Nikica Gabrić, MD, PhD, Prof. Ratimir Lazić, MD, PhD,  Prof. Maja Bohač, MD, PhD,  Ante Barišić, MD, PhD and Krešimir Gabrić, MD.

The benefits of laser cataract surgery include a personalized approach to each operation, a computer-guided surgical process, high precision, accuracy, and reproducibility of the procedure, as well as a less invasive procedure with reduced trauma to the eye.

Svjetlost Eye Clinic offers monofocal, monofocal plus, premium intraocular lenses, and multifocal intraocular lenses.

Yes, monofocal intraocular lenses have a single focus and provide the patient with good distance vision without glasses, but glasses must be worn for near vision (or vice versa if the patient prefers). If the patient had astigmatism before surgery (a refractive error of the eye resulting from irregular corneal curvature), glasses with cylindrical lenses will need to be worn for both distance and near vision after surgery.

No, multifocal intraocular lenses, which have 2 or 3 foci, enable patients to achieve good vision at various distances without glasses. Bifocal multifocal lenses provide good distance vision and good near vision, but slightly weaker vision at intermediate distances (80 – 100 cm). Trifocal multifocal lenses, in addition to good distance and near vision, also provide good intermediate vision, which is particularly important for patients who frequently work on computers.

The intraocular lens is permanents and is designed to last a lifetime.

If you wear contact lenses, they must be removed before the examination: soft lenses at least 72 h beforehand, and (semi-)rigid lenses at least 14 days prior.

Examinations are available from Monday to Friday, in the morning and afternoon, depending on the doctor’s clinic.

While it is possible to perform cataract surgery on both eyes on the same day, it is recommended to operate on one eye at a time, with a one-week interval.

Cataracts cannot return, but sometimes the lens capsule can become cloudy after some time, reducing visual acuity (secondary cataract). This clouding can appear months or even years after cataract surgery. If this occurs, the clouding is removed with a YAG laser, performed as a painless outpatient procedure lasting only 5 to 10 minutes, with immediate visual rehabilitation.

Yes, YAG laser capsulotomy can be performed on the same day as your examination.

Yes, floaters are not a contraindication for cataract surgery.

The cost of cataract surgery depends on the type of lens implanted in the eye after removal of the natural, clouded lens and on the method of performing the procedure (ultrasound or laser). Your doctor will recommend the choice of lens and method of performing the procedure during the examination, based on the health condition of your eye.

The diagnostics include IOL Master, ultrasound + A-scan, corneal topography, endothelial microscopy, and OCT of the macula and optic nerve.

The IOL Master is a device that measures the power of the lens to be implanted in the eye during cataract surgery. Taking into account the axial length of the eye, keratometry values, anterior chamber depth, and a series of formulas, it calculates the power of the lens to be implanted.

The patient sits at the device, rests their head, and the device automatically records all necessary data. The examination is painless, takes half a minute, and the results are immediately printed.

Ultrasound + A-scan is an examination that provides insight into the interior of the eye and eye length.

The patient sits comfortably in a chair while the physician gently moves the ultrasound probe over the lower and upper eyelids and captures images. For the A-scan, the probe needs to be placed on the cornea of the previously anesthetized eye. The examination is painless, harmless, and takes several minutes.

Corneal topography is an examination that provides insight into the curvature of the anterior surface of the cornea and determines the value of corneal astigmatism.

The patient sits at the device, rests their head, and the device automatically records all necessary data. The examination is painless, lasts a few seconds, and the results are immediately printed.

An endothelial microscope is an examination that counts the number of endothelial cells in the cornea.

The patient sits at the device, rests their head, and the device automatically captures all necessary data. The examination is painless, takes a few seconds, and the results are immediately printed.

OCT of the macula and optic nerve is an examination that images the structure of the macula and optic nerve and detects possible disorders of these structures that are otherwise invisible during examination with a magnifying glass.

The patient sits at the device, rests their head, and the device automatically records all necessary data. The examination is painless, lasts a few seconds, and the results are immediately printed.

A cataract is a consequence of the natural aging process that leads to clouding of the eye’s lens. A cataract (also known as gray cataract) most often appears as a grayish-white clouding in the pupil of the eye. Instead of being completely black, the pupil may appear milky, gray, or cloudy.

Cataracts cannot be treated with pills, ointments, or drops, but exclusively by surgery.

Cataracts cannot be stopped. The only permanent solution is surgery.

Patients can resume all daily activities within one week of the surgical procedure. Full stabilization of the eye is expected over several weeks, depending on the condition of the eye’s surface.

Prices range from €1,500.00 to €2,400.00 per eye for ultrasound cataract surgery, while the price of laser cataract surgery ranges from €2,000.00 to €2,900.00 per eye.