{"id":10425,"date":"2026-10-16T10:00:47","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T08:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/2026\/10\/uncategorised\/cataracts-myths-facts-no-need-to-wait\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T10:00:47","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T08:00:47","slug":"cataracts-myths-facts-no-need-to-wait","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/2026\/10\/cataracts\/cataracts-myths-facts-no-need-to-wait\/","title":{"rendered":"Cataracts: Myths, Facts and Why You No Longer Need to \u201cWait for Them to Ripen\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From the age of 60 or 65, it is very common to start noticing that colours lose their natural intensity, that sunlight or car headlights are more bothersome than usual, or that your vision gradually becomes hazy, as if you were looking through a dirty pane of glass. This loss of sharpness is the main sign of a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/eye-problems\/cataracts\/\">cataract<\/a><\/strong>, one of the most common eye conditions in the population and the leading cause of reversible vision loss worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, despite being a routine and highly safe procedure in modern ophthalmology, there are still false myths, rooted for decades, that lead many patients to delay their treatment unnecessarily. At <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/our-clinics\/\">Cl\u00ednica Ram\u00edrez &amp; G\u00e1lvez<\/a><\/strong>, we explain the medical reality about cataracts, the advances in cataract surgery and how latest-generation intraocular lenses can give you back an extraordinary quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The great myth: why you NO longer need to &#8220;wait for the cataract to ripen&#8221; \ud83e\uddd0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Years ago, when surgical techniques were more rudimentary, surgeons needed the cataract to be very advanced and hardened (&#8220;ripe&#8221;) in order to remove it completely through a large incision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, technology has radically changed this paradigm:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Unnecessary surgical risk:<\/strong> The longer surgery is postponed, the harder and denser the cataract becomes. A hypermature cataract requires more ultrasound energy inside the eye to break it up, which increases post-operative inflammation and raises the risk of surgical complications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A pointless loss of quality of life:<\/strong> Waiting until your vision is reduced to a minimum means spending months or years restricting activities as fundamental as driving, reading, sewing or walking safely, increasing the likelihood of falls in older people.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Current medical criteria:<\/strong> The ideal time to operate on a cataract is not determined by the &#8220;hardness&#8221; of the lens, but by how limited the patient feels in their daily life. If the lack of sharpness affects your comfort or your activities, it is time to deal with it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Common symptoms: how to recognise the loss of transparency \ud83d\udca1<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The crystalline lens is the transparent lens located behind the iris that allows us to focus images. With natural ageing, the proteins of the lens break down and gradually become cloudy. This process causes very characteristic symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Blurred or misty vision:<\/strong> A constant feeling of looking through a light haze that does not improve when you blink or clean your glasses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Extreme sensitivity to glare:<\/strong> Sunlight or headlights at night cause annoying reflections and flashes in the form of halos.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Loss of vividness in colours:<\/strong> Whites look yellowish or brownish and colours appear dull or faded.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Frequent changes in prescription:<\/strong> Needing to change glasses more often than usual or, paradoxically, a sudden temporary &#8220;improvement&#8221; in near vision in people with presbyopia (due to the myopic shift caused by the cataract).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The revolution of Premium Intraocular Lenses (IOLs) \ud83d\udd2c<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cataract surgery consists of removing the cloudy lens using micro-ultrasound (<strong>phacoemulsification<\/strong>) and implanting in its place an artificial <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/2025\/12\/eye-surgery\/intraocular-lenses-monofocal-trifocal-edof-guide\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"8222\">intraocular lens (IOL)<\/a><\/strong> that will last a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The great advantage of today&#8217;s ophthalmology is that this procedure not only removes the cataract but also offers the opportunity to correct the patient&#8217;s existing refractive errors at the same time (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Monofocal lenses:<\/strong> Designed to provide maximum sharpness at one specific distance (usually far). They require glasses for near or intermediate vision to read or work on a computer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Trifocal and EDOF (Extended Depth of Focus) lenses:<\/strong> These are the <em>Premium<\/em> range lenses. They distribute light to focus at three distances (far, intermediate and near). They allow patients to lead a normal life without depending on glasses to look at the car dashboard, work on screens or read a book.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quick, painless surgery with no hospital stay \ud83d\ude80<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cataract surgery is a high-precision procedure performed entirely on an outpatient basis:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Topical anaesthesia with drops:<\/strong> No general anaesthesia or injections around the eye are needed; local anaesthetic drops are applied that completely numb the surface of the eye.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Self-sealing micro-incision:<\/strong> It is performed through a microscopic incision (of barely 2 millimetres) that does not require stitches.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Express recovery:<\/strong> Patients go home the same day on their own two feet. Visual recovery is remarkably fast, with a significant improvement in clarity and colours noticeable within the first 24\u201348 hours.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_2911-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Cataract surgery\" class=\"wp-image-8902\" style=\"width:357px;height:auto\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_2911-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_2911-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_2911-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_2911-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Precision diagnosis in Lucena and Torre del Mar \ud83c\udfe5<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Success in cataract surgery lies not only in the surgical technique but in a meticulous choice of intraocular lens. Every eye has a unique corneal curvature, axial length and macular quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At both our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/share.google\/iG1Huqcoi8QaQHX1C\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lucena<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/share.google\/xpRzjY25vWHiR4I9u\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Torre del Mar<\/a><\/strong> facilities, our team of ophthalmic surgeons carries out a high-resolution laser biometry study and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan of the retina. With this precise data, we analyse your lifestyle and visual needs to recommend the exact lens that will give you back your independence and sharp vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don&#8217;t let a cataract limit the vitality of your days, and don&#8217;t put off the comfort of your eyes because of old myths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Is your vision misty, or do lights bother you when driving? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Treat yourself to the peace of mind of seeing clearly! <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/contact\/\">Book your cataract assessment appointment<\/a> at our clinics in Lucena or Torre del Mar and discover the options for renewing your vision. \ud83d\udcc5\u2728<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From the age of 60 or 65, it is very common to start noticing that colours lose their natural intensity, that sunlight or car headlights are more bothersome than usual, or that your vision gradually becomes hazy, as if you were looking through a dirty pane of glass. This loss of sharpness is the main [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":8901,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rs_blank_template":"","rs_page_bg_color":"","slide_template_v7":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[125,147,141],"tags":[209,208,187,211,79,210],"class_list":["post-10425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cataracts","category-eye-health","category-ophthalmology","tag-cataract-surgery","tag-cataracts","tag-eye-health","tag-intraocular-lenses","tag-lucena","tag-phacoemulsification"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10425","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10425"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10425\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10425"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10425"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10425"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}