Careful consideration is required when preparing to undergo cataract eye lens replacement surgery. While the surgery only takes minutes to complete, the recovery process takes a little longer.
Knowing what to expect in the days and weeks after you have cataract surgery can help to decrease healing time and ensure a lifetime of better vision.
Immediately after the surgery
As anesthesia — and in some cases, sedation — is used during the procedure, you will likely be a little groggy or sleepy for a few hours, so have someone available to transport you to and from the appointment and stay with you for at least 24 hours if possible.
Due to the injection of a local anesthetic into the eye, you may have a bruise in the area, but it should dissipate within a few days.
Once you’re back at home
In most cases, you can remove your eye patch after 24 hours. It’s normal to have blurred or double vision, watery eyes, a foreign body sensation, and redness for a few days. From start to finish, healing from cataract surgery takes four to six weeks.
If you require glasses, don’t order them until you have fully recovered. Take a few days to rest and wear your eye shield at night for five to seven days. You can shower and bathe as normal, but wear your eye patch to prevent water from entering the eye.
You can read, use a computer, or watch television during your recovery. You can also walk around and do some light housework, but avoid activities that require bending over, lifting, or overly exerting yourself until you are completely healed.
When venturing outdoors, use your old glasses, sunglasses, and eye patch. Avoid swimming, hot tubs, and saunas for a week or more due to the potential risk of infection from shared water.
Don’t rub the eye and avoid wearing eye makeup for at least a month. Also, do not drive or fly without permission from your eye doctor.
Preparing some frozen meals or buying pre-cooked meals in advance can help to ensure you get the rest you need, rather than worrying about cooking and cleaning up.
Follow your doctor’s advice
Recovery from cataract surgery is straightforward, and there are very few potential complications, providing you follow your surgeon’s aftercare advice. Go to your follow-up appointments on schedule and use any eye drops your doctor gives you as directed.
If you notice any persistent or severe pain, swelling, redness, or discharge, contact your surgeon urgently. If your field of vision changes, your eyesight worsens, or you notice unusual bursts of light, seek immediate assistance.
As one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States, 90% of cataract surgery patients report a favorable outcome with little-to-no complications. Being well-prepared for your recovery can help you to heal as quickly as possible.
