Cataract Surgery Recovery: What to Expect
February 10th, 2025
Every year in the US, ophthalmologists perform approximately 4 million cataract surgeries. While cataract surgery is a safe and effective way to permanently restore vision affected by cataracts, a successful recovery is key to ensuring optimal results.
If you are scheduled for cataract surgery, knowing what to expect can help you manage your recovery with confidence. Keep reading to learn more about what to expect during cataract surgery recovery.
What is Cataract Surgery?
Cataracts occur when particles of protein on the natural lens of your eye clump together on the surface of the lens. Over time, the clumps collect and prevent light from hitting the retina, causing the cloudy vision characteristic of cataracts.
During cataract surgery, your cataract surgeon removes the natural lens and replaces it with an intraocular lens (IOL). The IOL restores clear vision and prevents cataracts from re-forming.
Cataract surgery is a relatively quick outpatient procedure. It is typically performed on one eye at a time, a few weeks apart.
Once the surgery is complete, you will need someone to drive you home, and you should rest for the remainder of the day. You may experience mild eye discomfort, and the treated eye will likely be teary and irritated.
What to Expect During Cataract Surgery Recovery
For the first week after surgery, it is critical to get as much rest as possible. While light physical activity is fine, you should avoid engaging in activities like heavy lifting or strenuous exercise.
To avoid complications, here are some of the precautions you should take for the first week after cataract surgery:
- Use prescription eye drops as prescribed
- Don’t touch, rub, or press on your eye
- Keep water away from your eye
- Use an eye shield when you sleep
- Protect your eyes from exposure to UV light
- Stay away from swimming pools and hot tubs to prevent infection
- Don’t use any makeup or lotions around your eyes
During this time, you may experience continued tearing, redness, tenderness, and the feeling that something is in your eye. Your vision might also be blurry or hazy, but it should improve within one to three days.
Attending follow-up appointments with your eye doctor is essential to prevent complications and ensure proper healing. You should call your eye doctor if you experience a sudden decrease in vision, an onset of frequent flashers, or significant pain, all of which could be signs of a complication.
When Can I Return to Regular Activities after Cataract Surgery?
Your eye doctor will let you know when it’s safe to return to normal activities based on how you are healing. Most patients are cleared to drive and work after their first follow-up appointment.
By the end of the month after your cataract surgery, most people see a significant improvement in the clarity of their vision. After the first month, side effects usually disappear, and vision continues to improve as the eye adjusts to the replacement IOL.
Although recovery times can vary from person to person, peak visual clarity is typically achieved within several months. However, you’ll likely be enjoying clear, cataract-free vision long before then.
For most people, recovering from cataract surgery is relatively easy and complication-free. When you closely follow your eye surgeon’s post-operative instructions, you can ensure that your recovery gives you the best possible results after cataract surgery.
Do you want to learn more about how to have a smooth recovery after cataract surgery? Schedule an appointment at Laser Eye Center in Huntsville, AL, today!
