These are the questions our patients and their families actually ask, answered by the surgeons who perform the operation. Dayal Eye Centre is an NABH-accredited eye hospital in Gurgaon with 20+ years of practice and 1.2 lakh+ eye surgeries; our Director, Dr. Sanjeev Bisla, has performed more than 80,000 cataract surgeries.
If your question is not here, ask us directly — that is what a consultation is for.
These answers are general information, not medical advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan. What applies to your eye depends on your examination. Consult with our doctors at Dayal Eye Centre.
About Cataracts
9 answers
Your natural lens is normally as clear as a camera lens. Over time its proteins change and clump together, and it loses transparency — the way a smudged lens blurs a photograph. The more opaque the lens becomes, the hazier everything you see becomes. Colours fade, glare and halos appear around lights at night, and reading needs more and more light.
Most commonly, as a normal part of ageing. From around the age of 40 the proteins inside the lens begin to break down and clump, and the lens gradually clouds. Injury, long-term steroid use, radiation therapy, previous eye surgery, smoking and years of unprotected sun exposure can all bring a cataract on earlier or make it progress faster.
It depends where in the lens the clouding starts, and that is how cataracts are classified. The three main types are nuclear (in the centre of the lens), cortical (spoke-like opacities from the edge inwards) and posterior subcapsular (at the back of the lens, often causing marked glare). There are also posterior polar and mature cataracts. Your surgeon identifies the type on slit-lamp examination, and it influences how the surgery is planned.
Nuclear, cortical and posterior subcapsular. Nuclear cataract forms in the centre of the lens and typically causes a gradual yellowing and blurring, often with a temporary improvement in near vision. Cortical cataract forms as wedge-shaped opacities at the edge of the lens and causes glare. Posterior subcapsular cataract forms at the back of the lens, progresses faster than the others, and causes marked difficulty with bright light and reading.
Immature, mature and hypermature. An immature cataract clouds part of the lens and vision is still partly usable. A mature cataract clouds it fully. A hypermature cataract is the final stage, where the lens has become very hard and dense after prolonged clouding — and it is the stage at which surgery becomes technically more demanding, which is why we advise against waiting indefinitely.
A hypermature cataract is the most advanced stage of cataract development, where the lens has become very hard and dense from prolonged clouding. It can be operated, but a harder lens needs more energy to remove and the surgery carries a higher complication risk than the same eye operated earlier. If you have been told you have a hypermature cataract, it is worth discussing timing with a surgeon rather than deferring further.
Age-related cataract is not inherited in the way a genetic disease is, but a family history of cataract is a recognised risk factor and can mean it develops earlier. Separately, a baby can be born with a congenital cataract, sometimes following certain infections during pregnancy — this is treated surgically and early so that the child’s vision can develop normally.
Diabetes does not cause every cataract, but it significantly raises the risk and tends to bring it on earlier. A meta-analysis of eight studies covering 20,837 people found type 2 diabetes roughly doubled the odds of cataract overall (odds ratio 1.97), with significant associations also for the cortical (1.68) and posterior subcapsular (1.55) subtypes (Li, Wan & Zhao, BMC Ophthalmology, 2014). If you have diabetes, an annual dilated eye examination matters — for the retina as much as for the lens.
No. LASIK reshapes the cornea, which is at the front of the eye; a cataract forms in the lens, behind the iris. Having had LASIK does not cause a cataract and does not prevent you from having cataract surgery later. It does mean your surgeon needs your pre-LASIK records, because previous corneal laser surgery changes how intraocular lens power is calculated.
Before Surgery
7 answers
No. There is no medication, eye drop, exercise or diet that reverses a cataract once the lens proteins have clouded. Surgery is the only established treatment. In the early stages, an updated spectacle prescription and better lighting may be enough to manage, and we will tell you if that is where you are.
No. Cataract is a structural change in the lens of the eye, and no Ayurvedic or other non-surgical treatment has been shown to reverse it. Removing the clouded lens surgically and replacing it with an intraocular lens is the only established treatment.
No. Once the lens has clouded, the change cannot be reversed by any medication or treatment currently available. There are no approved eye drops for treating cataract. Surgery remains the only established option.
As long as the cataract is not interfering with what you need to do, you can reasonably wait, and delaying will not damage the eye. There are two arguments against waiting indefinitely: a lens left for many years becomes hard and dense, which makes the surgery technically more demanding; and poor vision carries its own risks. A prospective study of adults aged 55 and over found fall risk dropped by 54% after first-eye cataract surgery and 73% after second-eye surgery, compared with before (Feng et al., Clinical Interventions in Aging, 2018). The timing decision is best made with a surgeon who has examined your eye.
At Dayal Eye Centre: a refraction and spectacle check, a slit-lamp examination to identify the type and density of the cataract, optical biometry on the Zeiss IOL Master 700 to calculate your lens power, corneal tomography on the OCULUS Pentacam where astigmatism or corneal irregularity needs mapping, iTRACE ray-tracing aberrometry, a dilated retinal examination with OCT, tonometry, and blood pressure and blood sugar checks.
Tell us about any change in the eye in the weeks beforehand. Bring a full list of your medications and supplements — some, such as blood thinners and prostate medications, need to be discussed. Start your pre-operative drops exactly as prescribed and bring them on the day. Stop contact lenses three days before. On the day: comfortable clothes, no make-up or perfume, nothing to eat or drink after midnight, no alcohol for 24 hours before, and someone to bring you home.
Sometimes, but never on your own initiative. Blood thinners are prescribed for a reason, and stopping them carries its own risk. Tell your eye surgeon what you take, and the decision will be made together with the doctor who prescribed it. Many cataract operations are performed safely without stopping them at all, because the incision is very small.
The Surgery Itself
6 answers
The clouded lens is removed by phacoemulsification — ultrasound energy breaks it into fragments, which are aspirated out through a self-sealing incision of about 2.2 mm — and a clear artificial intraocular lens is implanted in its place through the same opening. The lens is chosen from measurements of your eye taken before surgery. No stitches are needed. The surgery usually takes 10 to 15 minutes and is done as day care.
Yes. In the great majority of cases the eye is numbed with anaesthetic drops alone — this is topical anaesthesia, and it means no injection. You stay awake and can speak to the surgeon throughout. If a different type of anaesthesia is needed for your eye, your specialist will discuss it with you at your consultation.
Almost all our cases are performed under anaesthetic eye drops, so there is no injection and usually no pad or bandage afterwards, which is why most patients begin to see within a few hours. Most people describe pressure or a sensation of something touching the eye rather than pain, and mild grittiness for a few days after. Individual experience varies, and we would rather you tell us what you feel than assume.
The surgery itself usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. Including preparation, the procedure and a short recovery period, plan for a few hours at the centre. Femtosecond laser-assisted surgery adds a laser stage before the main procedure, so allow longer. It remains a day-care operation — you go home the same day.
Not usually. Our standard practice is to operate the second eye once the first has healed, commonly within a few days to two weeks. That sequence lets us confirm how your first eye has healed and refine the lens plan for the second if needed.
Not in terms of the vision you end up with, according to the largest randomised evidence available. A 2023 Cochrane review of 42 trials covering 7,298 eyes found probably little or no difference between femtosecond laser-assisted (FLACS) and conventional phacoemulsification in complications, visual acuity or quality of life, and the FEMCAT trial in The Lancet reached the same conclusion. FLACS does offer greater consistency in the opening steps, which matters in specific eyes.
Intraocular Lenses
5 answers
There is no single best lens — there is a lens that suits your eye and your daily vision needs, and it is chosen from measurements, not from a price list. Monofocal lenses give excellent distance vision but reading glasses are still needed. Multifocal and trifocal lenses reduce spectacle dependence but make halos and glare more likely. Toric lenses correct astigmatism. At Dayal Eye Centre we use IOL Master 700 biometry and iTRACE aberrometry to plan the lens for each eye, and our counsellors go through the trade-offs with you before you decide.
No. A premium lens performs as designed only in an eye that can use it — which is why we examine the retina with OCT before recommending one. If there is macular disease behind the cataract, the vision after surgery will be limited by the retina rather than the lens, and a premium implant will not change that. If a monofocal lens suits your eye and your life, that is what we will recommend.
An implanted intraocular lens is designed to stay in the eye for life and does not wear out or need routine replacement. It can be exchanged surgically if there is a specific clinical reason — a significant power error, or persistent intolerance of a multifocal lens — but this is uncommon and is a further operation, not a routine adjustment. It is one more reason the lens decision is worth taking time over before the first surgery.
No. Intraocular lenses are made from materials designed to remain stable inside the eye indefinitely, and they do not degrade or expire. What can happen is that the thin natural membrane behind the lens clouds over — posterior capsule opacification — which is treated with a Nd:YAG laser in the clinic in seconds.
Often, yes — and how much depends on the lens you choose. With a monofocal lens you will have good distance vision but will need reading glasses. With a multifocal or trifocal lens, spectacle dependence is reduced, though halos and glare become more likely. With a toric lens, astigmatism is corrected, but glasses may still be needed for some tasks. If spectacles are required, the prescription is given four to six weeks after your final surgery, once the eye is stable.
Recovery and Aftercare
10 answers
The incision is about 2.2 mm and needs no sutures, so healing is quick. Vision usually improves noticeably within a few days, and healing is generally complete by about four weeks. You will be reviewed the day after surgery and at set intervals after that.
Most patients rest for three to four days and are back to light routine within that time. Avoid bending, straining and heavy lifting in the first few days, and follow the eye-drop schedule exactly. Your surgeon will set the timeline for your eye at your day-one review.
A normal, nutritious and easily digestible diet, from the same day. There is no special cataract diet. Stay well hydrated and avoid constipation — straining is the thing to avoid in the early days, and diet is the easiest way to prevent it.
After one week. For the first week, do not splash water on the face; clean with a damp cloth or wipes instead. After a week you can wash your face and take a head bath normally, keeping the eyes closed while washing.
Avoid splashing water on the face for one week. During that time, clean with wipes or a damp cloth. After one week, the face can be washed normally, taking care to keep the eyes closed.
Most patients resume driving about a week after surgery, but this must be confirmed at your follow-up — your doctor will check your vision first. Night driving may take a little longer to feel comfortable, particularly if only one eye has been operated so far.
Television is usually fine within 48 hours, and sustained screen work within one to two weeks. Wear dark glasses if there is any discomfort or glare, blink deliberately, and take breaks — eyes feel drier than usual in the early weeks.
Usually two to three weeks. Anything involving bending forward, straining, lifting or inverted postures should wait until your surgeon confirms, because these raise pressure inside the eye while the wound is still sealing.
Do not rub or press the eye. Avoid bending, straining and heavy lifting in the first few days; swimming pools, hot tubs and dusty environments for a few weeks; and water splashed directly on the face for the first week. Wear the protective shield as instructed, especially at night, and never skip or shorten the eye-drop schedule — it is what prevents infection.
Call straight away — do not wait for your next appointment — if you have increasing pain, a sudden drop in vision, spreading redness, or any discharge from the eye. These are the signs that need to be seen the same day. +91 81786 39701.
Results, Risks & Long-Term
7 answers
Cataract surgery is performed once per eye. Once the clouded lens is removed it cannot re-form, so the cataract does not come back. What can happen months or years later is clouding of the thin membrane behind the implanted lens — posterior capsule opacification — which is treated with a Nd:YAG laser in the clinic in a few seconds, without another operation.
“Secondary cataract” or “after-cataract” is the common name for posterior capsule opacification: the back layer of the lens capsule, on which the intraocular lens sits, becomes cloudy over months to years and blurs the vision again. It is not the cataract returning. Registry data from 89,947 eyes found Nd:YAG laser treatment was needed in 4.1% of monofocal and 21.2% of diffractive multifocal/EDOF implants (Horn et al., Clinical Ophthalmology, 2022). The treatment takes seconds and is done in the clinic.
In the first days and weeks, some blurring is normal while the eye heals and settles. Later blurring — six months to a few years after surgery — is most often posterior capsule opacification, which is treated with a Nd:YAG laser in the clinic. Other causes include a residual spectacle error, dryness, swelling at the macula, or an underlying retinal or optic nerve condition. Any persistent or sudden blurring should be examined rather than waited out.
Cataract surgery is among the most performed and most reliable operations in medicine, but no surgery has a guaranteed outcome. Across more than 240,000 operations in the European Registry of Quality Outcomes, 94.4% of eyes achieved corrected distance vision of 6/12 or better — rising to 97.2% in eyes with no other eye disease (Lundström et al., 2012). Where vision recovers less than hoped, it is most often because of a coexisting condition such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy or macular disease — which is why we examine the retina before surgery and tell you what to expect beforehand.
The main ones are infection inside the eye (endophthalmitis), which occurs in around 0.045% of eyes — roughly 1 in 2,200 — where intracameral antibiotic prophylaxis is used (Shi et al., Int J Ophthalmol, 2022); inflammation and swelling; a tear in the posterior capsule during surgery; corneal swelling; raised eye pressure; swelling at the macula; retinal detachment, which is uncommon and more likely in highly myopic eyes; posterior capsule opacification later; and a small residual spectacle error. Your surgeon will go through the risks specific to your eye at your consultation.
Yes, provided both are well controlled. A large proportion of our cataract patients are diabetic or hypertensive and are operated safely. We check blood pressure and blood sugar before surgery, and we examine the retina carefully, because diabetes often brings retinal changes that affect how much vision surgery can restore. If either is not in range, we would rather postpone than proceed.
There is nothing that reverses a cataract, and no proven way to halt one. What you can do is reduce the things that accelerate it: protect your eyes from UV with proper sunglasses, stop smoking, keep alcohol moderate, and keep diabetes and blood pressure controlled. And do not defer surgery indefinitely — a cataract left to harden for years is a more demanding operation than the same eye treated earlier.
Cost, Insurance & Schemes
5 answers
At Dayal Eye Centre, from ₹20,000 per eye. Most patients fall between ₹26,000 and ₹93,000 per eye, and it can reach ₹1,50,000 or more where a premium intraocular lens is chosen. The lens is by far the largest variable.
Cataract surgery is a medically necessary procedure and is covered by most health insurance policies, subject to your policy terms, exclusions and waiting periods. Dayal Eye Centre is empanelled with more than twenty insurers and TPAs and settles cashless wherever the policy allows. Note that the additional charge for a premium lens or for laser assistance is often treated as an elective upgrade and may not be reimbursed in full — ask us to check your specific policy before you decide.
Yes. Dayal Eye Centre is empanelled under Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY), and also under CGHS, ECHS and the Health Department, Government of Haryana. What each scheme covers, and at what package rate, is set by the scheme rather than by the hospital. Bring your scheme card, ID and any referral paperwork, and our billing team will confirm your entitlement before surgery is scheduled.
Tax treatment of medical expenditure in India depends on your circumstances and on the provisions applying in the relevant assessment year, so this is a question for a tax professional rather than for us. What we can tell you is that we provide full documentation — an itemised bill, receipts and a discharge summary — for any claim or filing, and that cataract surgery can be settled cashless under most insurance policies and the government schemes we are empanelled with.
Yes. Easy EMI is available through our partner Savein. You do not need a credit card — EMI runs through NBFC partners and select debit cards as well. A nominal processing fee may apply depending on the plan and partner bank. LASIK, cataract and retina procedures are all EMI-eligible.
Still Have a Question?
Ask a surgeon rather than a search engine.
A cataract evaluation at Dayal Eye Centre takes one visit and tells you what stage your cataract is at, which lens would suit your eye and why, what it would cost itemised, and what your insurance covers. There is no obligation to book surgery.
These answers are general information and not medical advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Individual results vary with age, eye health, cataract density, the lens implanted and adherence to post-operative care. To find out what applies to your eyes, consult with our doctors at Dayal Eye Centre.
Answers reviewed by Dr. Sanjeev Bisla, MS (Ophthalmology), Director & Chief Ophthalmologist — Dayal Eye Centre · Last reviewed: 28 July 2026 · Editorial Policy
Vision Correction
Cataract
Retina
Glaucoma & Cornea
Paediatric & Speciality
Oculoplasty