Restoring clear vision,
with surgical certainty.

What Is a Cataract?

A cataract is a condition in which the eye's natural lens (the crystalline lens) becomes cloudy, most commonly with age, causing symptoms such as blurred or hazy vision, increased sensitivity to glare, and reduced visual acuity. While aging is the main cause, cataracts can also develop as a result of diabetes, long-term steroid use, or eye injury.

Our View on the Right Timing for Cataract Surgery

In our view, the time to consider surgery is essentially when you can no longer do the things you used to be able to do.

Everyone's lifestyle is different — hobbies, work, how often you drive, the sports you play. This means that even with the same degree of cataract, the right time for surgery is different for each person.

There is no need to put up with your symptoms just because "the vision test numbers aren't bad" or "the doctor said it can wait." Conversely, if you have been urged to have surgery early because "the cataract has already started," yet it is not affecting your daily life and you are unsure whether you really need surgery now, please feel free to come and talk with us.

Duration & Hospitalization

Surgery takes about 5–7 minutes per eye. Depending on your preference and general health, our group offers both day surgery and surgery with a short hospital stay. Inpatient care is available at Kitasato Institute Hospital.

Complex and Advanced Cases

We can handle most cases that are often referred to university hospitals as "difficult cataracts" — advanced cases (mature or hypermature cataracts), patients with systemic conditions, and more.

Possible Complications

Reported complications include posterior capsule opacification (a decline in vision occurring months to years after surgery, treatable with a laser), postoperative infection (endophthalmitis), intraocular bleeding, and retinal detachment — all of which are rare. We will explain these fully before surgery.

Cataract surgery details

Types of Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)

• Monofocal IOL (covered by insurance): The standard lens, focused at a single distance — far or near. Glasses are used for other distances after surgery.
• Toric IOL (covered by insurance): A lens that corrects significant corneal astigmatism.
• Multifocal IOL (selective treatment): Provides focus at multiple distances — far and near — greatly reducing dependence on glasses.
• Trifocal IOL (selective treatment): Distributes focus across three points: far, intermediate, and near.
• Extended depth-of-focus IOL (EDOF) (selective treatment): A new-generation lens that prioritizes natural vision and reduces nighttime glare.

How to Think About Lens Selection

• A lifestyle centered on reading, computer work, or smartphones → a multifocal IOL is a strong option
• A job involving frequent nighttime driving → consider a monofocal IOL with glasses, or an extended depth-of-focus lens
• A lifestyle centered on sports and the outdoors → a multifocal IOL is also worth considering

Approximate Costs (Self-Paid Portion)

Under Japan's "selective treatment" (sentei ryoyo) system, a multifocal IOL adds an out-of-pocket lens fee on top of the usual insurance-covered cost. Depending on the type of lens, this is approx. ¥300,000–¥400,000 per eye (JPY), varying by facility and lens.

Points to consider: With multifocal IOLs, some people experience "halos" — rings of light around lights at night — or "glare," an uncomfortable sensitivity to bright light. Contrast sensitivity may also be slightly reduced, so we explain these effects in advance and ask about your lifestyle in detail.

Toric & multifocal IOL details

What Is ICL?

ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) is a refractive procedure that corrects myopia and astigmatism by placing a dedicated lens between the iris and the crystalline lens. Because no corneal tissue is removed, the lens can be taken out later if your refraction changes — making this a reversible procedure.

How ICL Differs from LASIK

• LASIK: reshapes the corneal surface with a laser to change refraction (irreversible)
• ICL: implants a lens inside the eye without removing corneal tissue (reversible)

Who Is a Good Candidate?

• People with high myopia who have been told they are not candidates for LASIK
• People with thin or irregularly shaped corneas
• People who struggle with dry eye
• People who want to keep options open for future changes in their vision

The Surgical Procedure

1. Preoperative examinations (corneal endothelial cell count, anterior chamber depth measurement, precise refraction testing)
2. Anesthetic eye drops
3. A small incision is made in the cornea
4. The folded lens is inserted and positioned behind the iris
5. The incision seals itself (no sutures required)

Duration & Hospitalization

A day procedure taking about 20 minutes for both eyes. Most people return to their daily routine the next day.

Approximate Costs (Not Covered by Insurance)

Approx. ¥500,000–¥700,000 for both eyes (JPY), varying with the type of lens and whether astigmatism correction is included. Details will be provided at your consultation.

Possible complications: Early cataract formation, elevated intraocular pressure, and infection have been reported in rare cases. We assess these risks through preoperative testing and evaluate candidacy carefully.

ICL details

Main Conditions Treated

• Retinal detachment
• Diabetic retinopathy (proliferative retinopathy, tractional retinal detachment)
• Epiretinal membrane (macular pucker)
• Macular hole
• Vitreous hemorrhage
• Diabetic macular edema
• Proliferative vitreoretinopathy

Our Approach: Micro-Incision Vitrectomy

Our group uses 25-gauge / 27-gauge micro-incision vitrectomy. Because the incisions are extremely small — about 0.4 mm — no sutures are needed, recovery is faster, and postoperative discomfort is reduced.

The Surgical Procedure

1. Preoperative examinations (OCT, fluorescein angiography, ultrasound, etc.)
2. Local anesthesia (general anesthesia for some cases)
3. Three micro-incisions are made in the sclera
4. The vitreous is removed with a vitrectomy cutter
5. As needed: retinal reattachment, membrane peeling, laser photocoagulation, and filling of the eye with gas or silicone oil

Duration & Hospitalization

Depending on the case, surgery takes about 20 minutes to 2 hours.

Our group generally performs vitrectomy as day surgery. However, at Kitasato Institute Hospital, Kawasaki Municipal Kawasaki Hospital, and Yokohama Municipal Citizen's Hospital, surgery is performed on an inpatient basis.

Possible Complications

Reported complications include endophthalmitis, progression of cataract, retinal tears or detachment, and elevated intraocular pressure, though advances in minimally invasive surgery have lowered their incidence.

After surgery: If a gas tamponade is used, you will need to maintain a face-down position for a certain period. You also cannot travel by airplane while gas remains in the eye. We will explain the details before surgery.

Vitrectomy details