- Type
- Age-related eye condition (most common cause of reversible blindness)
- Common age
- Usually after 50, earlier with diabetes, steroids or injury
- Main test
- Slit lamp examination, vision testing and IOL biometry
- Definitive treatment
- Phacoemulsification cataract surgery with lens implant
- Hospital stay
- Day-care — usually home the same day
Overview
The natural lens sits behind the iris and focuses light onto the retina. With age, the proteins in this lens clump together and the lens gradually becomes cloudy and yellow. That cloudy lens is called a cataract.
Cataract develops slowly, usually in both eyes but rarely at the same rate. Because the change is gradual, many patients only realise how much vision they have lost after one eye is treated.
Cataract does not spread from one eye to the other, cannot be reversed with drops or exercises, and does not damage the eye permanently if treated in time.
Symptoms
Cataract symptoms build up over months to years. Common signs include:
- Blurred, hazy or 'smoky' vision that spectacles no longer correct
- Glare and halos around headlights or tube lights, especially at night
- Colours appearing faded, dull or yellowish
- Frequent changes in spectacle power
- Difficulty reading in dim light; needing brighter light for close work
- Double vision in one eye
- In advanced cataract, a visible whitish appearance in the pupil
Causes
Ageing is the most common cause, but a cataract can also develop earlier due to:
- Diabetes and poorly controlled blood sugar
- Long-term steroid tablets, inhalers or eye drops
- Eye injury or previous eye surgery
- Long-term ultraviolet (sunlight) exposure
- Smoking and heavy alcohol use
- Congenital cataract present from birth in some children
Types of Cataract
Cataracts are classified by where the clouding develops in the lens, or by what causes them. The type affects how symptoms present and, sometimes, how surgery is planned.
- Nuclear cataract — clouding and gradual yellowing/browning of the central (nuclear) part of the lens; the most common age-related type, causing gradual blurring and frequent changes in spectacle power
- Cortical cataract — wedge- or spoke-shaped opacities starting at the outer edge (cortex) of the lens and progressing inward; often causes glare and difficulty with night driving
- Posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC) — clouding just in front of the back capsule of the lens; develops faster than other types and affects reading vision and vision in bright light disproportionately; more common with steroid use and diabetes
- Traumatic cataract — develops after an injury to the eye (blunt or penetrating trauma), sometimes appearing soon after the injury or years later
- Systemic (secondary) cataract — associated with systemic conditions such as diabetes, or with long-term steroid use, chronic uveitis, or other eye disease
- Paediatric (congenital) cataract — present at birth or developing in infancy/childhood; needs prompt evaluation as it can affect visual development if untreated
Risk Factors
- Age above 50 years
- Diabetes mellitus
- Family history of early cataract
- High myopia (very high spectacle power)
- Previous retinal surgery or chronic uveitis
- Outdoor occupations with high sun exposure
When to See a Doctor
Book an eye examination if blurring affects driving, reading, cooking, stair use or your work, if glare at night is troubling you, or if your spectacle power has changed more than once in a year.
Seek urgent care for sudden vision loss, eye pain with redness, flashes and floaters, or a curtain over part of your vision — these are not cataract symptoms and need same-day assessment.
Diagnosis
Cataract is diagnosed clinically in the consultation room. A full assessment also confirms that the retina and optic nerve are healthy, because these determine how much vision will improve after surgery.
- Visual acuity testing with and without glasses
- Slit lamp examination to grade the type and density of the cataract
- Intraocular pressure check to rule out glaucoma
- Dilated retina evaluation, particularly important in diabetes
- Biometry (IOL power calculation) when surgery is planned
Treatment Options
Early cataract can often be managed with an updated spectacle prescription, better lighting and anti-glare lenses. There is no medicine or eye drop that dissolves a cataract.
Surgery is advised when the cataract interferes with your daily activities. It involves removing the cloudy natural lens and implanting a clear artificial intraocular lens (IOL) in its place.
Cataract Surgery Techniques: Phaco & MICS
Phacoemulsification (Phaco) is the standard modern cataract surgery. The cloudy lens is broken up using ultrasound energy and removed through a small, self-sealing incision, usually without stitches, and a foldable IOL is inserted through the same opening.
MICS (Micro-Incision Cataract Surgery) is a refinement of phacoemulsification performed through an even smaller incision (typically under 2.2 mm, compared to around 2.8–3.2 mm for standard phaco). The smaller incision can mean less surgically induced astigmatism, faster visual recovery and a more stable eye surface, and is well suited to eyes needing precise refractive outcomes.
- Phacoemulsification (Phaco) — ultrasound-based lens removal through a small self-sealing incision; the well-established standard of care
- MICS (Micro-Incision Cataract Surgery) — stitch-less, sutureless surgery through a smaller incision than standard phaco, for quicker, more comfortable visual recovery
- Both techniques are day-care procedures performed under eye drop or local anaesthesia
- The suitable technique and incision size are decided by the surgeon based on the cataract grade and the eye's measurements
Intraocular Lens (IOL) Options
The intraocular lens (IOL) implanted during cataract surgery permanently replaces the eye's natural lens and is a key decision in planning surgery, alongside the surgical technique itself.
- Monofocal IOL — the standard, most widely used lens; gives clear vision at one focal distance (usually far), so reading glasses are typically still needed for near work
- Toric IOL — a monofocal or multifocal lens with an added correction for significant corneal astigmatism, for sharper uncorrected vision
- Multifocal IOL (bifocal) — provides two points of clear focus (typically distance and near), reducing dependence on reading glasses for many activities
- Multifocal IOL (trifocal) — provides three points of clear focus (distance, intermediate and near), aiming for good spectacle independence across most everyday distances
- Extended depth-of-focus (EDOF) IOL — creates one elongated zone of clear focus rather than distinct points, giving a smoother range of vision from distance to intermediate with fewer visual side-effects than some multifocal designs
- Lens choice is decided together with the surgeon based on your eye measurements (biometry), corneal astigmatism, retinal health, lifestyle and budget
Recovery After Surgery
Cataract surgery is a day-care procedure done under eye drop or local anaesthesia and typically takes 15–20 minutes per eye. Most patients go home the same day and notice clearer vision within 24–48 hours.
- Eye drops are used in a tapering schedule for about 4 weeks
- Avoid rubbing the eye, dusty environments and swimming for 3–4 weeks
- Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for about 2 weeks
- Most desk work is resumed within a few days
- Final spectacle prescription is usually given 3–4 weeks after surgery
Risks & Possible Complications
Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most commonly performed operations, but as with any surgery, risks exist and are discussed before consent.
- Infection or inflammation inside the eye (rare)
- Swelling of the cornea or macula, usually temporary
- Raised eye pressure in the early post-operative period
- Posterior capsular opacification months to years later — treated with a quick YAG laser sitting
- Residual spectacle power in some eyes
Expected Outcomes
In an otherwise healthy eye, the large majority of patients achieve a substantial improvement in vision after cataract surgery. If the retina, optic nerve or cornea is also affected, the surgeon will explain in advance how much improvement is realistic.
Cost Factors
Cost depends on the diagnosis, the tests required, the technology or implant chosen and the length of treatment or follow-up.
The clinic explains the full cost — tests, procedure and follow-up visits — before you agree to treatment. There are no hidden charges.
Insurance and cashless approval depend on your policy and the procedure; the front desk helps with the paperwork wherever a claim applies.
Call the clinic on 070303 11311 for current pricing and insurance details.
Why Choose Dr. Murkute's O2 Bone & Eye Care
- Evaluation and surgery by Dr. Dipti V. Murkute, Consultant Ophthalmologist & Anterior Segment Surgeon (MBBS, DNB Ophthal, FICO UK)
- Unhurried consultation with the cataract grade and lens options explained in plain language
- Structured pre-operative workup including biometry and retina evaluation
- Day-care surgery with clear written aftercare instructions
- Convenient Kharadi location for patients across East Pune
