Cataract surgery — what to expect in the first few weeks
Cataract surgery is a great operation to improve vision and quality of life. While most patients see some improvement as soon as the next day, people having cataract surgery — like any surgery — benefit from a recovery period before they are at their best again.
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This is an informational post outlining the common stages of recovery after routine cataract surgery. Your recovery may feel different, and this is not a replacement for personal medical advice. If you have any concerns or questions about your recovery after surgery please contact your surgeon.
In this blog post I outline what the ‘typical’ first few weeks are like, and answer some of the most common questions I hear, such as:
How quickly will my vision improve?
Is there anything I need to avoid?
When can I get back to driving?
When reading this post, remember that no two eyes are exactly the same, and you can expect to see differences in how your recovery compares to someone else’s, and even how your second eye compares to your first.
People with severe cataracts and pre-existing eye conditions can still get a great final result after cataract surgery, but their recovery will take a little longer and I generally advise these patients on a case-by-case basis.
The first 24 hours
At the end of surgery I will place some tape across your eyelid, and a firm plastic eye shield. This protects the eye from injury and stops your eyelids from opening before the anaesthetic has worn off. The anaesthetic will begin to wear off a few hours after surgery, at which point it is normal to experience any of the following:
No problems — many patients have no issues and may not feel the eye; this is okay
Watering — use a clean tissue to dab away any tears or watering from your cheek, but don’t wipe the eye itself
Grittiness and stinging — do not rub your eye
Irritation from the eye patch — if it has been 6 hours since surgery you can remove the tape, but re-apply the hard plastic eye shield and keep this shield on until the next morning
A dull ache — paracetamol and other over-the-counter pain relief can help here
Rest assured that these annoying early symptoms start to improve by the next day.
Day 1 after surgery - your first check-up
The next morning you can take off the eye shield, and tape, and start your post-operative eye drops. The moment you take the patch off you’ll notice crusting around your eyelashes that can be gently wiped away with a clean, damp tissue. Your eye may be red, and while bruising is uncommon it can occur after routine cataract surgery, especially in patients taking blood thinners.
Your vision will be blurry when the patch first comes off, but as the morning progresses you’ll notice it starts to improve. By the end of day it’s normal to still have some blurriness, which improves over the next days and weeks as you adjust to your new lens.
I will see you on day 1 after your operation for a quick check-up. Make sure that someone else drives you to this appointment. At this appointment my staff and I will check your vision, eye pressure, and make sure that your eye is beginning to heal. This appointment is completely free-of-charge.
The first week - take it easy
Routine cataract surgery doesn’t require any stitches, but the self-sealing wounds need time to heal. For the first week you should avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, bending over, and swimming. It’s a good idea to keep the plastic eye shield on at night, to avoid accidentally bumping the eye while you sleep.
At the end of week 1 you will notice that feelings of redness, grittiness, and blurred vision are improving. Some residual grittiness is normal, providing it’s not getting worse.
What about driving?
The majority of people can safely drive by the end of week 1, but I will need to see you and check your vision to let you know when you can get back behind the wheel. I advise all of my patients to expect one week off driving — just in case.
The first four weeks - getting back to normal
After week one, things start getting back to normal. You will need to continue your post-operative eye drops for four weeks, but you can get back to most day-to-day activities including moderate exercise. Discomfort and redness improves dramatically in the first four weeks, and your eyes will start to adjust to the new, clear lens.
While there are no routine appointments booked in this time, you can call me at any time if you have concerns. Often a quick phone call is enough to sort things out, but if you need to make an appointment I can arrange a time to see you at no charge.
Four to six weeks - the final check-up
At four to six weeks after surgery I will see you for a final check-up. At this appointment I will do a comprehensive examination of both eyes to make sure you have made a full recovery from surgery, and to re-check the general health of your eyes. If you intend to wear glasses after surgery I will give you the “all clear” and forward the operation details to your optometrist.
What if you’re having problems?
If you experience any problems after surgery please contact me on 8326 6900, or on the emergency phone number provided in your surgery information pack. Warning signs to look out for include:
Deteriorating vision
Flashing lights, visual floaters, shadows in your vision
Severe pain