Understanding cataracts
The assessment: your surgeon looks first
Every operation begins with a personal examination by the doctor who will later operate. Only then come a recommendation, a lens choice and a written quote.
Why in person
No operation without our own examination
An essential part of our approach is the assessment by the surgeon who will later operate. Even if you already have a diagnosis or a referral, we want to examine your eyes ourselves. Only then can we judge how urgent an operation is, what particular features your eye brings with it and which lens implant suits you.
The examination ends with a clear statement: whether an operation makes sense, when, and what it costs. You take findings and written quote home and decide at your own pace.
What to bring
What to bring to your assessment
- Your current glasses
- A list of your medications
- Previous eye reports, if you have any
- Sunglasses for the trip home
- A companion if possible, because you should not drive after pupil dilation
If you wear contact lenses, ask us beforehand how long to pause them. They change the corneal measurements.
What is examined
Six steps, one complete picture
Duration about 30 to 60 minutes. None of the examinations hurt.
Vision test and refraction
How well do you see with and without glasses, and how much of that can still be improved with lenses?
Slit lamp and eye pressure
Assessment of the cornea, lens and front of the eye, and measurement of the pressure inside the eye.
OCT of the retina
A layered scan of the retina and macula. It shows changes that could affect the result, before the operation.
Optical biometry
Contact-free measurement of eye length and corneal curvature, the basis for calculating your lens implant.
Examination with dilated pupils
Only with a dilated pupil can the lens and retina be fully assessed. The drops work for a few hours.
Advice and quote
Discussion of findings, timing of surgery and lens implant. You receive a written quote with your total.
Questions about the assessment
What patients want to know beforehand
I already have a diagnosis. Why an assessment anyway?
Because the surgeon must have seen your eyes himself before operating. The diagnosis of cataract says nothing yet about lens density, cornea, retina or the right lens implant. The measurements for the lens calculation also have to come from one source.
How long does the assessment take?
Expect 30 to 60 minutes. Pupil dilation needs about 20 minutes to take effect, which we use for the remaining measurements.
Can I drive afterwards?
No. With dilated pupils your vision is blurred and light-sensitive for a few hours. Come by public transport, taxi or with a companion.
What if surgery is not the right step yet?
Then we tell you so. You receive your findings, a recommendation on when a check-up makes sense, and no operation you do not need.
What does the assessment cost?
€250 for both eyes, including OCT and biometry. All fees are on the costs page.
Take the first step: a clear diagnosis
The cataract assessment gives you certainty about your eyes, a personal recommendation and a fixed quote. It commits you to nothing.