Patients with cataract

A cataract, also known as grey star, is the clouding over of the original, clear ocular lens. Patients report that they are looking through a light veil that becomes denser over time. Sensitivity to glare often increases too. Grey star can have many causes. By far the most common cause of cataracts is aging. It usually occurs after the age of 60.

Once the initially slight clouding of the lens thickens and causes a significant deterioration in vision, surgery is often the only treatment option. You can decide on when to have the operation in consultation with your ophthalmologist. In the case of star surgery, the opaque lens is surgically removed from the eye and replaced by a plastic intraocular lens.

Nowadays, in consultation with their trusted eye specialist and their surgeon, patients have a choice of different lenses allowing them to compensate for a range of visual defects. A monofocal intra-ocular lens (IOL), a so-called single-strength standard lens, is standard. The so-called premium lenses are coated lenses with a modified surface and special optics. The most common premium and special lens types are as follows:

- Aspherical IOLs

The special optics of these lenses offer patients improved contrast vision in addition to a light filter.

- Toric IOLs

These lenses offer an additional cylindrical feature for those patients with a more pronounced corneal curvature. A corneal curvature defect should be compensated or corrected in the eye.

- Multifocal IOLs


These lenses offer patients near and distant vision.



On 1st January 2012, the following statutory regulation was introduced as part of the German Healthcare Structure Act (GKV): Patients needing a cataract operation are entitled to a cost reduction through their health insurance company, even if they wish to have a special lens implanted. The health insurance company bears the costs for the implantation of a standard lens. Any additional costs for a special lens must be borne by patients themselves. Your eye specialist will invoice you with the treatment costs relating to follow-up care for special lenses in accordance with the scale of charges, taking into account the allowance from your health insurance company.