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Lens surgery · Vision correction
Cataract surgery in Germany
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Medical content prepared for review by Dr. med. Levent Kanal, head surgeonIn short
A cataract is the natural lens of the eye becoming cloudy with age. Vision turns dull, glare increases, colours fade. Surgery is the only treatment: the clouded lens is dissolved by ultrasound through a 2 mm opening and replaced by a clear artificial lens. About 15 minutes per eye, with drops instead of an injection. Most patients see clearly the next morning — and the cataract cannot come back.
How it works — 3 steps
- 1We measure the eye and choose the lens with you.Biometry and OCT give the lens power. Monofocal, EDoF or multifocal — depending on how you want to see afterwards.
- 2The clouded lens is removed through a 2 mm opening.Drops numb the eye. Ultrasound dissolves the lens in a few minutes. No stitches.
- 3The new lens unfolds in its place.It stays for life. The second eye follows the next day.
Surgery time
≈ 15 min per eye
About two hours in the clinic
Both eyes
Two consecutive days
One trip, about four days
Anaesthesia
Eye drops
No injection, no general anaesthesia
Opening
≈ 2 mm
Self-sealing, no stitches
Clear vision
Next morning
Final result after a few weeks
When
When vision limits daily life
Not a fixed stage — you decide with us
SuitabilityIs cataract surgery right for you?
A first orientation. The examination gives the final answer.
Good fit if …
- Reading, driving or recognising faces has become harder, and glasses no longer help.
- Glare in sunlight or at night, faded colours, double contours in one eye.
- Your eye doctor has found a cataract and the examination confirms it is the cause.
- You want to use the operation to correct a prescription at the same time — toric, EDoF or multifocal lens.
- Healthy retina and macula, or a known condition we can plan around.
Better alternatives if …
- A very early cataract that does not bother you yet → regular checks; surgery when it limits you
- Reading glasses are the main problem and the lens is still clear → Presbyond® or a lens exchange
- Macular disease or advanced glaucoma → we treat or stabilise that first; the lens choice is adapted
- Active eye inflammation or an uncontrolled general illness → we wait until it is settled.
Not sure? Tell us about your eyes. The head surgeon gives you a first answer, usually within one working day.
CompareMonofocal, EDoF or multifocal lens?
Every cataract operation needs a new lens. Which one depends on how you want to see afterwards.
Artificial lenses compared
Monofocal, multifocal or EDoF — Dr. Kanal explains.
| Monofocal | EDoF | Multifocal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distances | One distance, usually far | Far and screen | Near, screen and far |
| Glasses afterwards | Reading glasses | For small print | Rarely |
| Halos at night | Very low | Fewer | Possible at first |
| Contrast in dim light | Best | Good | Slightly reduced |
| Adaptation | None | Short | A few weeks |
| Astigmatism | Toric version | Toric version | Toric version |
| Statutory insurance | Standard lens covered | Private extra | Private extra |
| Typical choice | Simplest, sharpest distance | Driving, screen work | Reading, office, hobbies |
Astigmatism
Toric lenses correct astigmatism in the same step.
If you have astigmatism, the new lens is made in a toric version: it corrects the cylinder together with the distance error, whatever the lens type — monofocal, EDoF or multifocal. No extra operation, no laser touch-up for the astigmatism. The exact axis is measured at the examination and marked before surgery.
ProcedureExamination, two surgery days, final check.
One examination, one eye per day on two consecutive days, a final check. All at our surgical centres in Wiesbaden and Düsseldorf.
Visit 1 · about 90 minutes
Examination
- We measure the length of the eye and the cornea (biometry), scan the macula and retina (OCT) and grade the cataract.
- You tell us how you live: reading, screen, driving at night. That decides the lens type.
- Dr. Kanal explains the lens options and what your insurance covers.
- Pupils are dilated; do not drive afterwards. No contact lenses for 1–2 weeks before.
Visits 2 and 3 · one eye each
Surgery days
- Come without make-up. Bring sunglasses and, if you can, a companion.
- Drops numb the eye; you may get a mild sedative. You see light and movement, no detail. No pain.
- Through a 2 mm opening the clouded lens is dissolved by ultrasound and removed. The folded new lens unfolds in its place. About 15 minutes.
- A short rest, then you go home with a protective shield. The second eye follows the next day, after a check of the first.
Modern cataract surgery in Wiesbaden
A look inside the surgical centre.
Understanding cataract surgery: how the procedure works
Every step, explained by Dr. Kanal.
The lens: calculated for your eyes
- Biometry and OCT give the lens power to a fraction of a dioptre.
- Monofocal: one distance, sharpest. EDoF: far and screen. Multifocal: near, screen and far.
- Astigmatism is corrected in the same lens (toric) — no extra step.
Visit 4 · next morning
Final check
- The morning after the second eye we check pressure, the lens position and the vision of both eyes, and go through your drops. Most patients see well enough to come on their own.
- Then you travel home. Afterwards, routine eye check-ups near your home.
Dr. med. Levent Kanal · Head surgeon
“Cataract surgery is the operation I have performed most often in my career, and it is still the one that changes lives most visibly: the morning after, colours are back. The only real decision is the lens — and that we make together, before the day.”
Cataract and corneal surgeon · trainer of eye surgeons · 20+ years
Every cataract operation is performed by the head surgeon himself.
RecoveryResults you can plan for.
The first days, and what you can realistically expect.
Back to everyday life
| Screen, reading, TV | next day; both eyes together from day 4 |
| Driving | after the final check |
| Shower, hair washing | next day, no water in the eyes for 1 week |
| Sport, gym | after 2 weeks |
| Eye make-up | after 2 weeks |
| Swimming, sauna | after 4 weeks |
What you do
- Use your drops as scheduled for about 4 weeks — they prevent infection and inflammation.
- Do not rub or press the eye for 2 weeks. Wear the shield at night in the first week.
- Your old glasses will not fit any more; new glasses, if needed, are prescribed after about 4 weeks.
- Red, painful eye, sudden blur or new floaters? Call us the same day.
What to expect
Clear vision the next morning; colours brighter than you remember. The result settles over a few weeks; new glasses, if needed, after about 4 weeks. The artificial lens stays for life — a cataract cannot come back.
What it does not do
It does not treat other causes of poor vision: macular degeneration, glaucoma damage or diabetic changes in the retina remain and need their own treatment. A monofocal lens does not remove the need for reading glasses.
RisksThe complete list.
Complication rates are low in long-term studies. Low is not the same as none. Here is the complete list.
When is cataract surgery really worthwhile?
Dr. Kanal answers in one minute.
After-cataract
In some patients the capsule behind the new lens clouds months or years later. A short laser treatment (YAG) clears it in minutes, once. It is not the cataract coming back.
Swelling of the macula
Rare, in the first weeks. Drops treat it; that is why you keep the check-ups and the drop schedule.
Pressure rise
Rarely the eye pressure rises in the first days. We check it the next morning and treat it with drops.
Residual value
Rarely the target is not fully reached. Glasses, a laser touch-up or a lens exchange are possible.
Retinal detachment
Rare, more likely in very short-sighted eyes. New floaters or flashes need a same-day call.
Very rare complications
Infection inside the eye is very rare. Our centres work to clinical hygiene standards, and your drops are part of that protection.
“Trust begins with openness. We go through every point on this list together, with your own measurements on the screen.”
Dr. med. Levent Kanal · Head surgeon
Cataract patient
Patient story
“I did not realise how grey everything had become until the morning after. The colours were back.”
CostsA written quote after the examination.
No price list on the website: the quote depends on your eyes and the method. This is what you can expect.
When you get the quote
After the examination, in writing, before you decide. No obligation.
What the quote lists
Examination, the lens, the treatment of both eyes, the drops for the first weeks and the checks in our clinics — item by item, with what your insurance covers marked.
Insurance and invoice
German statutory insurance covers standard cataract surgery with a monofocal lens. Premium lenses (toric, EDoF, multifocal) are a private extra. Patients from abroad receive an itemised invoice (GOÄ) for their insurer.
How you pay
By bank transfer or card, in euros. Payment options for patients from abroad are explained with the quote.
Prices are not published online because they depend on the findings of your examination. We answer cost questions personally: ask us.
From further awayComing from another region or from abroad?
Two steps. First we check remotely whether cataract surgery is right for you. Only then do you travel — once, for about four days.
1Before you travel
Remote assessmentA first answer before you travel.
You tell us about your eyes and your current values in a private conversation. Dr. Kanal says whether cataract surgery is realistic for you. If the answer is no, you do not travel.
What we will ask you
- Your current glasses or lens values
- Your age and how long your values have been stable
- Contact lens type and any eye conditions
You get a personal answer from Dr. Kanal, usually within one working day.
Your planFour days. One trip.
- 1
Day 1 · Examination
About 90 minutes. Lens choice with Dr. Kanal.
- 2
Day 2 · First eye
About two hours in the clinic, 15 minutes of surgery.
- 3
Day 3 · Second eye
Check of the first eye, then the second operation.
- 4
Day 4 · Final check
In the morning. Then you travel home.
- +
At home
Routine eye check-ups near your home.
Coming from further away? The schedule can differ from this plan. Ask us before you book anything. Ask about your plan · WhatsApp
2Your visit
About 4 days with usExamination, one eye per day, and a final check.
Once the remote assessment is positive, we plan the four days around your arrival in Wiesbaden or Düsseldorf. All later checks take place near your home.
Which airport, and how do I reach the clinic?Languages
Consultation and all documents in German and English.
Insurance and invoice
A private medical service in Germany. Itemised invoice for your insurer. Written quote after the examination.
Aftercare at home
Written report for your eye doctor. We stay reachable by WhatsApp for questions after you return.
Live in Rhine-Main or the Rhineland? Then no travel planning is needed. Your follow-up checks can take place at any of our 12 locations. Find your nearest clinic
Why Dr. LookOne surgeon for every patient. Two surgical centres.
Dr. med. Levent Kanal operates on every patient himself, in Wiesbaden and Düsseldorf: thousands of operations in 20 years. He leads a large team and trains young surgeons.
20+ years
of surgical experience
Thousands
of operations, every one by the head surgeon
12 locations
one surgeon, two surgical centres
Large team
led personally; young surgeons trained here
Beyond the clinicTraining young surgeons. Giving back.
Teaching
Training the next generation of eye surgeons
Ophthalmology wetlab in Aschaffenburg · Dr. Kanal as instructor
Community
Social commitment
Neuss integration run · sport connects people
Dr. Look channelHear it from our patients.
Patient stories
Modern eye medicine for clear vision
Dr. Levent Kanal
Why Dr. Look
Artificial lenses compared — monofocal, multifocal or EDoF?Lens surgery
Can cataract come back after surgery?Lens surgery
Crosslinking for keratoconus: effect & benefitsEye healthQuestions about cataract surgery
When is cataract surgery due?
When the cataract limits your daily life: reading, driving, recognising faces, glare. There is no fixed stage; waiting does not make the operation harder in most cases. You decide with us.
Does it hurt?
No. Drops numb the eye and you may get a mild sedative. You see light and movement during the 15 minutes, no detail. A scratchy feeling on the first day is normal.
Which lens will I get?
Monofocal for the sharpest distance vision with reading glasses; EDoF for far and screen with fewer halos; multifocal for near, screen and far. Astigmatism is corrected in the same lens. Dr. Kanal chooses with you at the examination.
Both eyes on the same day?
No. The second eye follows the next day, after a check of the first. Both are done in one trip of about four days.
Can the cataract come back?
No. The clouded lens is gone and the artificial lens does not cloud. What can happen is an after-cataract of the capsule behind the lens — cleared with a short laser treatment if it occurs.
What does statutory insurance cover?
In Germany, standard cataract surgery with a monofocal lens is covered. Toric, EDoF and multifocal lenses are a private extra, listed in your written quote.
Who performs the treatment?
Dr. med. Levent Kanal, the head surgeon, performs every cataract operation himself. In Wiesbaden and Düsseldorf.
I live far away. How many days do I need?
About four days: examination, first eye, second eye, final check. We first assess remotely whether the treatment is realistic for you; then you travel once. Afterwards, routine eye check-ups near your home.
What does it cost?
You get a written quote after the examination, listing the lens type, everything included and what your insurance covers. For patients from abroad this is a private service.
LocationsFind the clinic closest to you
Two surgical centres and ten clinics. Choose your region and get directions in one tap.
Your journey to usWhich airport, and how do I reach the clinic?
Choose your surgical centre. The map shows the airport, the other clinics and the way to us.
Other treatmentsWhich method suits your eyes?
Laser or lens: the examination shows which treatment fits. Here are the alternatives at a glance.
Femto-LASIK
Proven. Precise. With the widest correction range.
Up to 45Short-sightedLong-sightedAstigmatism
Presbyond®
Near and far vision. Without reading glasses.
From 45PresbyopiaAstigmatism
Multifocal lenses
Reading, screen and driving with one lens.
From 45PresbyopiaCataract
EDoF lenses
Far and screen distance, with fewer halos at night.
From 45PresbyopiaCataract
Refractive lens exchange
The natural lens is replaced. No cataract later in life.
From 45PresbyopiaCataract
Scientific sources
What this page is based on
Scientific sources
What this page is based on
Peer-reviewed studies and medical societies only. No manufacturer or commercial sources.
- Peer-reviewed study
Cataracts
Liu YC, Wilkins M, Kim T, Malyugin B, Mehta JS · The Lancet 2017;390(10094):600–612
- Peer-reviewed study
Multifocal versus monofocal intraocular lenses after cataract extraction
de Silva SR, Evans JR, Kirthi V, Ziaei M, Leyland M · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016;(12):CD003169
- Peer-reviewed study
Extended depth-of-focus technology in intraocular lenses
Kohnen T, Suryakumar R · Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery 2020;46(2):298–304
- Medical society
Cataract in the adult eye Preferred Practice Pattern
American Academy of Ophthalmology · Ophthalmology 2022;129(1):P1–P126
- Medical society
Leitlinie Katarakt (Grauer Star) im Erwachsenenalter
Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft (DOG) and Berufsverband der Augenärzte (BVA)
- Patient information
What are cataracts?
American Academy of Ophthalmology, EyeSmart patient information