Cataract extraction is the most frequent surgical procedure. Indeed, one cannot avoid opacification of our crystalline lens. At the age of 80, or earlier, cataract results in poor vision, whatever the correction by glasses.

Cataract removal is a delicate procedure because the capsule of the crystalline lens is 8 microns thick and it should not be teared. The opacified content is emulsified by ultra-sounds and aspirated. It is replaced by a synthetic lens.

This surgery is performed under a microscope.

Usually, anesthesia is local, without injection. The hospital environment is not necessary.

To impede nosocomial risks and to reduce costs, many countries encourage cataract surgery out of the hospital. In Belgium, a new legislation organizes the reimbursement of "extra-muros" ophthalmic surgery.Without operation, the opacification of the crystalline lenses ends up to blindness. Cataract extraction and synthetic lens implantation has to be performed before this stage. It leads to excellent rehabilitation, sometimes limited by coexisting pathology like macular retinal degeneration or glaucoma damage.