“Choosing your IOL is the most important decision you’ll make about your cataract surgery, so take time to review your options and ask questions.”
What is motiya (motiyabind) in English?
Motiya, motiyabind and motiyo all mean cataract in English — the clouding of the eye’s natural lens that leaves vision blurred, dim or faded. In Hindi it is motiya or motiyabind (मोतियाबिंद); in Gujarati it is motiyo or safed motiyo (સફેદ મોતિયો). A motiya operation (motiya nu operation) is simply the everyday name for cataract surgery.
| Local term | Language | In English |
|---|---|---|
| Motiya, Motiyabind (मोतिया / मोतियाबिंद) | Hindi | Cataract |
| Motiyo, Safed motiyo (મોતિયો / સફેદ મોતિયો) | Gujarati | Cataract (white / mature cataract) |
| Motiya bindu, Motibindu | Hindi / Gujarati | Cataract |
| Safed motiya (सफेद मोतिया) | Hindi | White (mature) cataract |
| Motiya operation, Motiya nu operation | Hindi / Gujarati | Cataract surgery |
| Kala motiya (काला मोतिया) | Hindi | Glaucoma — a different eye disease |
One important distinction: safed motiya (white cataract) is a cataract and is curable with surgery, but kala motiya (काला मोतिया) is a completely different disease — glaucoma, caused by raised pressure inside the eye. If you are looking for kala motiya, see our glaucoma page.
What is a cataract?
A cataract is when the eye’s natural lens turns cloudy and hard, making vision blurred, dim or faded. Cataracts most often develop with normal ageing, but can also follow an eye injury or the use of steroid medications. If a cataract dims your vision enough to interfere with daily life, it may be time to have it removed.
What is a motiya (motiyabind) operation in English?
A motiya operation is simply the everyday name for cataract surgery. The surgeon removes the eye’s cloudy natural lens and replaces it with a clear artificial lens, called an intraocular lens or IOL. Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract — no drops or medicines can clear it. You can choose not to have it removed, but if you don’t, the vision loss will keep worsening.
What is vision like after cataract removal?
The goal of surgery is to correct the reduced vision caused by the cataract. The surgeon removes the cataract and places a new artificial lens, an intraocular lens, or IOL. Surgery will not correct other causes of poor vision such as glaucoma, diabetes or age-related macular degeneration, and most people still need glasses or contact lenses afterwards for near and/or distance vision and astigmatism.
Which examinations are required before surgery?
A complete eye examination. That means measuring your vision with and without glasses, the pressure inside the eye, the curvature of your cornea and the axial length of your eye, the IOL calculation, a microscopic examination of the front of the eye, and a dilated examination of the retina.
A note on measuring your IOL: the final result may differ slightly from what was planned. As the eye heals, the IOL can shift very slightly, and that shift is not the same in everyone. People who are highly nearsighted or farsighted, or who have had LASIK or other refractive surgery, are especially difficult to measure precisely.
What types of IOL (lens) are available?
There are IOLs to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, and choosing yours is the most important decision you’ll make about your surgery. In brief, your main options are:
- Monofocal: a single-focus IOL set for distance, with separate reading glasses — or set for near, with distance glasses.
- Monovision: two IOLs of different powers, one eye for near and one for distance, which lets many people read without glasses.
- Multifocal IOL: a newer “deluxe” lens correcting distance plus near or intermediate ranges. It usually costs more out of pocket, and glasses may still help clarity.
- Toric IOL: corrects astigmatism from an irregularly shaped cornea. It can be combined with a monofocal or multifocal design, and glasses may still be needed for some distances.
For a side-by-side comparison of monofocal, toric, multifocal and multifocal toric lenses — and how we help you choose the right one — see our Lifestyle-Enhancing IOLs page.