Cataract surgery at Clear Vision Eye Hospital uses blade-free Cold Phaco MICS through a self-sealing 1.8 mm incision. It is performed under anaesthetic eye drops with no injection, takes about 10–15 minutes per eye, needs no stitches, and is day care — you go home the same day. Prices start from ₹6,000 and depend on the intraocular lens you choose. The procedure is cashless with 30+ insurance and TPA partners.
What a cataract actually is
Inside your eye, behind the pupil, sits a clear natural lens that focuses light onto the retina. With age its proteins clump together and it turns cloudy. That cloud is a cataract. Light still reaches the retina, but scattered — which is why the world looks as though it has been smeared with grease rather than simply dimmed.
No eye drop, tablet or exercise dissolves a cataract. The only treatment that works is to remove the clouded lens and replace it with a clear artificial one. That is what cataract surgery is, and it is the most commonly performed surgery in the world.
Signs it is time to get checked
- Colours look faded or yellowed, and whites look dull
- Headlight glare and halos make night driving uncomfortable
- Your spectacle number keeps changing every few months
- You need brighter and brighter light to read
- Double vision in one eye, even with the other eye closed
- A cloudy or milky look in the pupil, visible to others
How the surgery is done
Cold Phaco MICS stands for Micro Incision Cataract Surgery performed with cooled phacoemulsification. Your surgeon makes an opening of about 1.8 mm at the edge of the cornea, breaks up the clouded lens with fine ultrasound energy, removes it, and slides a folded intraocular lens through the same tiny opening, where it unfolds into position.
Because the incision is so small, it seals itself. There is nothing to stitch, nothing to remove later, and the eye keeps its natural shape — which is why astigmatism induced by the surgery itself is negligible compared with the larger incisions used in older techniques. The "cold" part matters too: keeping the ultrasound tip cool protects the surrounding corneal tissue, so the eye is quieter and clears faster afterwards.
All of this happens under a German Zeiss operating microscope, and under anaesthetic drops rather than an injection around the eye. You are awake, comfortable, and aware of light and movement — but you feel no pain.
Choosing your intraocular lens
The surgery is the same for every patient. The lens is not, and it is the single decision that most affects both your result and your bill. Your surgeon will measure your eye precisely, then ask how you actually live before recommending one.
| Lens type | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Monofocal | Sharp distance vision. Reading glasses still needed. The most economical option and an excellent result. |
| Toric | Distance vision plus correction of pre-existing astigmatism, which a monofocal lens cannot fix. |
| Multifocal | Distance and near vision, so most patients read without glasses. |
| Trifocal | Distance, intermediate (screens) and near — the widest spectacle independence. |
| Toric multifocal | Spectacle independence for patients who also have astigmatism. |
There is no universally "best" lens. A tailor who threads needles all day, a driver who works nights and a retired teacher who reads Gujarati scripture each morning will each be better served by a different choice — which is exactly why we ask before we advise.
Your day of surgery, hour by hour
Arrival
Report at your allotted time with your reports and insurance card. Dilating drops are started.
Preparation
About 45–60 minutes of dilation and cleaning. You stay in your own clothes with a sterile gown over them.
Surgery
10–15 minutes in theatre under anaesthetic drops. You will see light and movement, not the procedure.
Rest
A short observation period with tea. Your surgeon confirms the eye is settled.
Home
Discharged the same day with your drop chart, a protective shield for sleeping, and your day-one review time.
Recovery — what is normal and what is not
Vision usually clears noticeably within 24 to 48 hours, though it continues to sharpen over several weeks as the eye settles. Mild watering, a gritty sensation and slight redness in the first few days are expected.
- Days 1–3: Use drops exactly as charted. Wear the shield while sleeping. Most people resume light desk work.
- Week 1: Normal indoor activity, reading and television. No face-washing directly into the eye.
- Weeks 2–4: Avoid dust, swimming, heavy lifting and contact with water in the eye. Driving once your surgeon clears you.
- Week 4–6: Final spectacle prescription is taken, if you need one.
Cost and insurance
Cataract surgery at Clear Vision starts from ₹6,000. What moves the number up is the lens, not the surgery. You will be given a written estimate covering the surgeon's fee, theatre charges, the lens and post-operative medication before you commit to anything — and that estimate does not change on the day.
Cataract surgery is covered by virtually every health insurance policy in India after the waiting period, and Clear Vision is empanelled with more than 30 insurers and TPAs. Our insurance desk files the pre-authorisation on your behalf at no charge. See how cashless works →
Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of cataract surgery at Clear Vision Eye Hospital?
Cataract surgery starts from ₹6,000. The surgical technique is the same for everyone — what changes the price is the intraocular lens you choose. A monofocal lens is the most economical, while toric lenses correct astigmatism and multifocal or trifocal lenses reduce dependence on spectacles for both distance and near vision. You receive a written estimate before you decide, and the procedure is cashless with 30+ insurance and TPA partners.
How do I find out the exact operation charges for my case?
The best option is to visit or call your nearest branch and enquire about the charges based on your own eyes and the lens you need — the exact package depends on measurements only your surgeon can take. To see the full range of packages and indicative pricing by lens type first, see our pricing page. Either way, you receive a written estimate before you decide on anything.
At what stage should a cataract be operated?
A cataract should be operated when it starts to interfere with what you need to do — reading, driving at night, recognising faces, or working. The old advice to wait until a cataract is "mature" is outdated and harmful: an over-ripe cataract is harder to remove, needs more ultrasound energy and carries a higher risk of complications. Modern micro-incision surgery is safest when performed earlier.
Which intraocular lens should I choose?
It depends on how you use your eyes.
- Monofocal — excellent distance vision; reading glasses needed
- Toric — also corrects astigmatism
- Multifocal / trifocal — distance, intermediate and near; most patients need no glasses, though a small number notice halos around lights at night
Your surgeon will recommend based on your corneal measurements, your occupation and whether you drive after dark.
Can both eyes be operated on the same day?
Standard practice at Clear Vision is to operate one eye at a time, usually one to two weeks apart. This allows the first eye to settle, lets your surgeon confirm the refractive result before selecting the lens power for the second eye, and keeps one eye functional throughout your recovery.
Does a cataract come back after surgery?
No. Once the natural lens is removed it cannot form a cataract again. Some patients develop clouding of the thin membrane behind the implanted lens, months or years later — this is called posterior capsular opacification. It is corrected in a few minutes with a painless outpatient YAG laser, with no cutting and no anaesthetic.
Is there an age limit for cataract surgery?
No. Cataract surgery is routinely performed on patients in their nineties. Because it is done under anaesthetic drops rather than general anaesthesia, the strain on the heart and lungs is minimal, which makes it one of the safest procedures available to elderly patients. Diabetes, blood pressure and cardiac conditions are managed, not barriers — we simply coordinate with your physician first.
How do I know if I need cataract surgery?
The usual signs are blurred or clouded vision, colours looking faded, glare or halos around headlights that make night driving uncomfortable, and needing brighter light to read. Spectacles that stop helping, or a number that keeps changing every few months, are also common early signs. None of this confirms a cataract on its own — a slit-lamp examination is what confirms it and shows how advanced it is, which is why the check-up matters more than the symptom list.
Will I still need glasses after cataract surgery?
It depends on the lens you choose. A monofocal lens gives sharp distance vision but you will still need reading glasses for near work. A toric lens additionally corrects astigmatism. A multifocal or trifocal lens is designed to reduce spectacle dependence for both distance and near, and most patients who choose one need no glasses for daily activities, though a small number notice halos around lights at night. Your surgeon recommends a lens based on your corneal measurements and how you actually use your eyes — not a single answer that applies to everyone.
Are there any risks with cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is one of the safest procedures in medicine, but like any surgery it carries a small risk of infection, bleeding, swelling or a shift in the intended lens power. Serious complications are uncommon with modern blade-free micro-incision technique. Your surgeon reviews your specific risk factors — diabetes, previous eye surgery, very high spectacle numbers — before the procedure and explains what applies to you individually, rather than a generic list.