Twenty or 30 years ago, cataract surgery was technically required to wait until the lens had matured and hardened. Now, thanks to advances in technology, it is easy to remove hardened lenses by emulsification or laser. On the other hand, over-mature cataract not only easily causes high intraocular pressure, but also easily causes protein outflow from the lens, resulting in inflammation and complications, such as glaucoma and uveitis, which all aggravate the complexity and difficulty of cataract surgery. It is recommended that as long as the cataract has affected daily life, it can be examined in detail, and if the best corrected vision is less than 0.4, surgery can be considered.

At present, cataract surgery is regarded as refractive surgery in advanced countries, which can improve the quality of vision at the same time, rather than sight-saving surgery. There is no need to endure the inconvenience of poor vision in life.

Currently, there are two kinds of intraocular lens materials for cataract surgery: acrylic and silicone. These two materials can be used for at least 70 to 80 years, and are not prone to deformation and atomization. However, a small number of people may have posterior capsular opacities, commonly known as secondary cataract, after surgery, which may affect their vision. This condition can be treated by YAG laser at the outpatient clinic, without further surgery.

Currently, intraocular lenses covered by the National Health Insurance program are spherical lenses. Despite anti-ultraviolet function, it can produce aberration. It is enough for people who need basic vision, but it may be a little insufficient for those who want to restore their vision to what is was when they were younger or who have astigmatism or presbyopia.

Thanks to advances in optics, intraocular lenses with additional features are also available in the market. Intraocular lenses with additional functions come with aspheric design, which can improve visual acuity, enhance night vision and reduce glare.

In addition, the 5-in-1 toric multifocal intraocular lens can be selected to treat presbyopia, so that there is no problem of looking far and near after operation. It can also achieve astigmatism correction and high-energy blue light filtering function to protect the retina and prevent macular lesions.

However, aspheric intraocular lenses need to be adjusted according to each person's eyeball and vision conditions. It is advised to seek an experienced ophthalmologist for consultation, examination and surgery to ensure the best visual quality after surgery.

Currently, most cataract operations are performed by local anesthesia with eyedrops, with almost no pain. Unless special conditions occur, there is no need for sutures in the wound, which can reduce the foreign body sensation and patients can be free from the pain of suture removal. The procedure takes about 10 to 30 minutes to complete, but may vary slightly depending on the individual's cataract condition.