Laser cataract surgery

Cataract surgery is a safe laser surgery to remove cataracts and improve vision.

Generally, the surgery is suitable for patients aged 55 and above who have been diagnosed with cataracts following changes in the natural eye lens that occur with age.

All of our physicians at the Dr. Levinger Group who perform cataract surgeries are corneal specialists. They are all trained, skilled, and have accumulated extensive experience over many years due to their work as senior physicians and as managers of departments and units in hospitals both currently or in the past. The team of physicians at the Dr. Levinger Group are specialists in cataract surgeries, so if you want to find a recommended cataract surgeon, we invite you to read about our physicians, learn about their training, and choose the surgeon that suits you.

• The visual disturbance gradually worsens over time, potentially leading to blindness.
• If the lens fills with cloudy fluid, there is a risk of increased intraocular pressure or inflammation in the anterior chamber of the eye.
• Quality of life is impaired: the patient may stumble, have difficulty driving due to glare and auras, have difficulty reading, watching television, and recognizing faces.

The surgery is performed under local anaesthesia using anaesthetic eye drops, and thus the patient does not feel pain during the surgery.

The surgery takes about half an hour to an hour, including preparation and recovery time.

Recovery from cataract surgery is very quick, and after just a few days, you can return to your full routine. Usually, vision is blurry in the first days after surgery and gradually improves within about three to four weeks to optimal vision.

Upon discharge from surgery, you will receive all contact details that will allow you to contact the physician, their secretary, or the medical staff, as well as the call center for leaving messages, if necessary.

Cataract surgery is a one-time procedure, and the results are for life. In about 10% of cases, there may be secondary clouding (secondary cataract), which is treated with YAG laser capsulotomy to remove the clouding.

• HMOs

The Dr. Levinger Group has arrangements with all HMOs.

Laser cataract surgery, unlike the traditional one, is not included in the health basket. HMOs allow partial financing of the surgery cost if you have supplementary insurance from the HMO (Shaban coverage): Clalit Mushlam or Platinum; Leumit Silver or Gold; Meuhedet Si or Adif; Maccabi Gold or Sheli. Coverage varies between HMOs. It should be noted that the HMOs do not subsidize the implantation of premium lenses (multifocal or toric).
We invite you to read about the costs and co-payments for surgeries on the HMO’s website:
Clalit
Leumit
Meuhedet
Maccabi

• Private Insurance

Insurance companies also participate in financing laser cataract surgery. Usually, the arrangement with the insurance company will include full or partial financing of the cataract surgery. Some insurance companies finance premium lenses. Costs vary according to the policy. It is recommended to check with the insurance company about the nature of the coverage and reimbursement individually.

If you have a private health insurance policy, you can enjoy a wide range of physicians and rich coverage, as well as reimbursement for the costs of surgeries, lenses, and treatments. The amount of reimbursement depends on the policy and is determined accordingly by the insurance company only.

In a comprehensive manner, everyone gets 7 sick days, no matter the type of surgery. However, the recovery rate from cataract surgery can vary from person to person, and therefore if more days are needed, you can request them from the secretariat at the relevant branch.

In the first hours, there may be pain accompanied by a burning sensation, a foreign body sensation, and excessive tearing, which will pass within a few hours. In general, recovery from cataract surgery is considered rapid. However, it is important to listen to the post-cataract surgery instructions given by the medical staff.

Blurred vision after cataract surgery is common. However, vision improves within a few days to a few weeks after surgery. If blurred vision after cataract surgery continues and does not improve, you should contact the clinic for an urgent examination.

You should avoid getting your eyes wet and washing your hair for about a week after surgery.

You can wear make-up once a week has passed since the surgery.

It is important not to lift heavy loads in the first weeks after surgery. Do not engage in intensive physical activity and do not exercise at a gym one week after surgery.

Do not dye your hair after cataract surgery during the first two weeks after surgery due to concern of irritating substances or chemicals entering the eye.

Driving after cataract surgery is not immediately possible. The general recommendation is to wait 24 hours after surgery before returning to driving. However, this depends on the degree of improvement in the individual vision of the patient, and the waiting time may be between a few days to a week. You should be examined after the surgery and before driving.

The recommendation is to wait usually between 24 hours and 48 hours after cataract surgery to allow initial healing and prevent complications.

You can do this after a month, while using antibiotic drops before and after swimming, as instructed by the physician. It is important to listen and act according to the post-cataract surgery instructions given by the treatment team in order to reduce the chance of complications.

If you feel that you do not see well after cataract surgery, you should contact the clinic urgently for an immediate examination.

Cataract surgery is a relatively safe procedure! More than 95% of patients undergo the procedure without any complications and experience a significant improvement in visual acuity and quality of life.

In the first hours after surgery, there may be slight discomfort: redness, irritation, burning, tearing, a foreign body sensation in the eye, and mild pain. Additionally, the operated eye may appear more closed due to eyelid stretching during the surgery. This condition is expected to pass after a few months.

In rare cases, there may be high intraocular pressure or corneal edema. The side effects after cataract surgery described above resolve with medication.

There is considerable importance to ophthalmologist follow-up. In any case of vision loss, severe pain, discharge, or a very red eye, immediate contact should be made with the clinic for an urgent examination.

For your convenience, the telephone numbers of the medical centers in the Dr. Levinger Group:

Dr. Levinger Eyes – *3122
Sheva Eyes – 08-6267777
Atidim Medical Center – 03-6445666
Ma’ayan – 04-6875000