Cataract surgery is highly successful, minimally invasive, and generally has a short recovery time. For most people, it takes 6-8 weeks for the tissues to fully heal, but you can expect to be back to your usual activities way before that.
Of course, everyone is unique, with factors like pre-existing eye and medical conditions playing a part in the cataract surgery recovery timeline. These include:
- Your age: The healing process naturally takes a little longer as you get older.
- Your health: Overall health, not just medical conditions, plays a part. A healthy weight, adhering to prescribed medications, a good diet, limiting alcohol, not smoking… You’ve heard them all before, but they really do play a massive part in how well your body can heal after cataract surgery (or, indeed, any operation or injury).
- Pre-existing eye conditions: Previous eye surgery or trauma, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, etc., can all lengthen the healing timeline.
- A particularly complex cataract procedure: Some cataracts are straightforward; others a little more challenging. The latter can mean the tissues need a little longer to heal.
However, healing rarely exceeds the 6–8-week mark. The only exception would be in the case of post-operative complications. The most likely of these is infection, which is absolutely something that you can help prevent with meticulous post-op eye care. (More about that in a moment).
Cataract Surgery Recovery Timeline
Cataract surgery is performed on what’s known as an outpatient procedure. This means you don’t have to stay overnight.
- The day of the operation: After surgery, you’ll remain in recovery for a short time. The medics will monitor you to ensure you’re in no pain and explain how you’ll need to look after your eye. You’ll be given eye drops to use and an eye guard to wear for the first 24 hours, and when you’re sleeping. You won’t be able to drive, so will need someone to bring you home and remain with you for at least the first 24 hours.
- Days 1-3: You’ll be encouraged to use your eye straight away. Reading, watching TV, sending emails… Anything that forces the eye to focus on different distances. It’s normal for vision to be a little blurry. This is because the brain is learning to re-interpret signals that aren’t impeded by the cataract. You’ll probably return to the eye doctor on day two or three for them to check that there are no post-op issues.
- Days 4-14: Expect your vision to continue to improve. Be sure to wear sunglasses and a hat to protect the eye from direct light when outside. Avoid dusty environments or going out in the wind. You may have another follow-up with the surgeon during this time, especially if you didn’t see them in the first couple of days.
- Weeks 3-6: During this time, you should be experiencing significant improvement in your vision. Depending on the type of intraocular lens (IOL) you’ve had implanted, you’ll now be benefiting from great far vision (for a monofocal lens) and perhaps near and mid as well (premium lenses). For a monofocal lens, you’ll still need to wear glasses for close-up work.
- Week 6 onwards: Healing should be more or less complete. You’ll be able to resume virtually all normal activities, including sports and activities that involve lifting and bending. If eyeglasses are needed, you’ll have your prescription assessed for new ones. You’ll attend a final ophthalmology appointment before being signed off.
Important Cataract Recovery Tips
One of the greatest reasons that recovery doesn’t follow the above trajectory is because of infection. Yes, it’s rare, but there are plenty of things you can do to dramatically reduce the risk.
- Practice fastidious cleanliness: Without fail, wash your hands before and after applying your eye drops. Remember how good you were at hand washing during Covid? Well, mimic that mindset whenever your fingers need to go anywhere near your eye.
- Don’t touch the eye unnecessarily: Yes, we know how tempting it is. But if you only take one thing away from this, it’s that you should refrain from touching it or the area around the eye except when cleaning or putting in the eye drops.
- Wear the eye guard: Especially when sleeping. This is the time that you’re most likely to unintentionally touch it, so wear it as instructed.
- Use the eye straight away: Read, use the laptop, type messages on your cell, trace the skyline… These are all great ways to help the new eye-brain connection fire up as fast as possible.
- Eat well and lay off the alcohol: Your body needs the right fuel to heal, so chow down on plenty of veggies, fruit, and high-quality protein. Alcohol causes inflammation, which directly inhibits healing. If possible, abstain for at least the first few days post-op, and keep consumption to a minimum until you’re fully healed.
Being told you need cataract surgery can naturally be an anxious time. Partnering with a surgeon who fills you with confidence can go a long way to alleviating any concerns.
Begin your search at https://www.bestcataractsurgeonreviews.com/, the best online resource for finding top-rated cataract doctors across the US.
