Laser cataract surgery and premium lenses, by the Head of Cataract Surgery at Ichilov Hospital

Prof. Eliya Levinger is a senior ophthalmic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience in cataract surgery, corneal transplantation and anterior-segment surgery. Since 2015 he has headed the Cataract Surgery Service at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov), one of Israel's largest hospitals, and he is a Clinical Senior Lecturer at Tel Aviv University's Faculty of Medicine.

He graduated in medicine from the Technion (MD, cum laude), completed his ophthalmology residency at Carmel Medical Center, and a fellowship in Cornea and External Disease at the University of Toronto. He has authored 50 peer-reviewed articles in journals such as the American Journal of Ophthalmology, Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery and Cornea, has presented at ASCRS, ESCRS and the World Cornea Congress, and is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, ASCRS and ESCRS.

He performs thousands of cataract and corneal procedures a year and personally handles every stage of care: the pre-operative assessment, the surgery itself and the follow-up visits. He calls each patient the day after surgery.

Consultation and measurements. A full examination and precise biometry determine whether you are a candidate for laser surgery and which lens will serve you best. The decision about lens type is made together, openly, including the limitations of each option (for example, night-time halos with multifocal lenses).

Surgery day. The procedure takes about 10 to 20 minutes under eye-drop anesthesia. You are awake but feel no pain; the main sensations are bright light for a few seconds, fluid washing the eye and mild pressure. Anxious patients can ask for a mild sedative syrup. Prof. Levinger examines you about an hour later and you go home the same day.

Recovery. Eye drops for about a month, a few simple precautions for the first days, and a personal phone call from Prof. Levinger the morning after surgery. Most patients return to normal activity within days; the second eye is usually operated on one to four weeks later.

Cost and insurance. Surgery is performed under private health insurance (Israeli supplementary and private policies). The laser stage is included at no extra charge when the eye is suitable. International patients receive a written quotation after the consultation.