Cataracts: How Not to Miss the Window When Vision Can Still Be Saved

A patient came to the ophthalmologist complaining about “dirty glasses.” She wiped them ten times a day — it didn’t help. It turned out the problem wasn’t the glasses: an early-stage cataract had been gradually clouding her lens for two years. A typical story — cataracts don’t hurt, don’t cause redness, don’t produce sudden changes. They simply steal your vision quietly.

What Is a Cataract and Why Does It Develop

A cataract is clouding of the crystalline lens, the eye’s natural focusing element. The main cause is age-related changes — after 60, more than half of people show some degree of lens opacity. Other risk factors include diabetes, prolonged corticosteroid use, eye injuries, UV exposure without protection, and smoking.

Early Symptoms That Are Easy to Ignore

Colors become less vivid, as if someone dimmed the brightness. A sense of “haze” appears that doesn’t clear after blinking. Reading in dim light becomes harder, while bright sunlight or oncoming headlights cause more glare than before. Some patients experience temporary improvement in near vision — the so-called “second sight” — which is actually a symptom of lens swelling, not improvement.

Stages of Development

Ophthalmologists identify four stages: initial (peripheral clouding, central vision preserved), immature (clouding reaches the center, noticeable vision loss), mature (lens fully opaque, vision limited to light perception), and overripe (lens degrades, risking secondary glaucoma). Modern surgery allows intervention at the initial stage — there’s no need to wait for the cataract to “ripen.”

Treatment: Phacoemulsification

The only effective treatment is surgical. No drops or exercises can restore lens transparency. The gold standard is phacoemulsification: ultrasound breaks up the clouded lens through a 2–3 mm microincision, and an intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted in its place. The procedure is outpatient, takes 15–20 minutes under topical anesthesia, and vision improves within hours.

When to See a Doctor

If you’re over 50, get annual eye exams even without complaints. If you notice haze, reduced contrast, or increased glare sensitivity, don’t delay. At S-Clinic in Chernivtsi, the ophthalmologist can conduct a full examination and discuss your options. Consultations with an e-referral from a family doctor are covered by the national health program. Book an appointment online or by phone.