When to operate

The lens opacity can progress slowly or quickly, but it can also remain unaltered over years. Not always does the degree of opacity correlate to the subjective visual acuity.  A small but centrally located lens opacity for example can influence vision much more than a large one, which is located in the lens periphery.
The “ideal” time for surgery varies individually. Normally we recommend a surgical treatment to our patients when their vision is not sufficient anymore for their everyday life. This is for example the case if problems arise in the household, employment or traffic.
However, it is never too late for cataract surgery. On behalf of the elderly patients, it is advisable not to wait for too long, since their quality of life is improved noticeably with surgery. The rehabilitation time after surgery is very short. 
The lens implanted into the eye has been well proven over 30 years and lasts a lifetime. The power of the lens can be predicted relatively precisely before surgery.
The question if the patient needs glasses after surgery basically depends on his personal needs and power of vision. Glasses are often not required for faraway vision. However, as long as only a common (and not a multifocal) lens has been implanted, reading glasses will always be necessary.