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.
Common Symptoms
- Overall blurred vision, as if looking through fog
- Uncomfortable glare outdoors on sunny days or from oncoming headlights at night
- Vision that stays poor even with new glasses
- Seeing double or triple images
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.
The Surgical Procedure
- Preoperative examinations (visual acuity, intraocular pressure, corneal topography, IOL power calculation, etc.)
- Anesthetic eye drops (supplemented with intracameral or sub-Tenon's anesthesia if needed)
- A small incision of about 2 mm is made in the cornea
- The clouded lens is broken up and removed by ultrasound (phacoemulsification)
- A folded intraocular lens is inserted and positioned
The incision is very small, and in most cases no sutures are required.
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, weak zonules (lens support fibers), and more. Even if you have been told elsewhere that surgery would be difficult, please contact us first.
Choosing an Intraocular Lens
In cataract surgery, an intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted in place of the removed crystalline lens. In addition to standard monofocal lenses, options include toric IOLs for astigmatism correction and multifocal IOLs for both distance and near vision, so the lens can be matched to your lifestyle.
Costs
Cataract surgery using monofocal or toric IOLs is covered by Japanese national health insurance. Your actual out-of-pocket cost depends on your co-payment rate (10–30%) and the high-cost medical expense benefit system. Please check with the reception desk of each medical institution for details.
If you choose a multifocal IOL, it falls under Japan's "selective treatment" (sentei ryoyo) system, and an additional out-of-pocket lens fee applies (see the IOL page).
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.
After surgery: Eye drops and regular follow-up visits are required for a certain period after surgery. Your surgeon will advise you on when you can resume washing your face and hair, exercise, and other activities based on your recovery.