Cataract Surgery is performed to remove a cataract from an eye. The recovery period of this surgery is short compared to other vision procedures, as long as you follow all the instructions given by your cataract surgeon.
At Trusted LASIK Surgeons™, we help you find qualified and experienced cataract surgery ophthalmologists. Through our Trusted Cataract Surgeons™ Directory, you will easily find a cataract surgeon who will help you get a clear vision and guide you during the recovery period to ensure its speedy and uneventful.
What Happens After Cataract Surgery?
In the hours immediately following Cataract Surgery, you may first experience some blurriness. This will change with time. You might need to wear a pad and shield over your eye, but you can typically remove it a day after surgery.
Itching and mild discomfort are normal after Cataract Surgery. Some fluid discharge is also common. Your eye may be sensitive to light and touch. After one or two days, moderate discomfort should disappear. If you have any discomfort that continues, contact your eye doctor to get this treated.
After your eye heals from Cataract Surgery, you will notice a significant improvement in your vision. Full healing can take 4-6 weeks. Over time, you will be able to see more clearly and the blurriness caused by cataracts should be gone.
When you are home, try not to bend from the waist to pick up objects on the floor. Do not lift any heavy objects. You can walk, climb stairs, and do light household chores.
What Does Cataract Surgery Recovery Involve?
Cataract surgery recovery is much simpler than many patients expect, and you can typically return to your daily routines quickly with a few exceptions. When you are home, try not to bend from the waist to pick up objects on the floor. Do not lift any heavy objects. You can walk, climb stairs, and do light household chores.
Initially, you may experience some discomfort after the surgery. You may experience some itching and redness. Your symptoms should last only a couple of days.
For a few days after surgery, your doctor may ask you to use eyedrops to help with healing and decrease the risk of infection. Ask your doctor about how to use your eyedrops, how often to use them, and what effects they can have. You will need to wear an eye shield or eyeglasses to help protect your eye. Avoid rubbing or pressing on your eye.
If any side effects persist beyond a few days, you should tell your eye doctor. The earlier you report your symptoms, the better the outcome may be.
Part of your cataract surgery recovery process involves using eye drops that help your eyes heal quickly. When your eyes heal quickly, you reduce your chances of infection significantly.
After eye surgery, you should also avoid doing any activity that puts pressure on your face and eyes. This means you need to avoid lifting anything heavy or bending forward. Your eye doctor will help you determine when it is safe to resume activities like work and exercise.
Cataract Surgery Recovery
Most of the time, the recovery period for Cataract Surgery will not take longer than a few days. However it is not uncommon in some case where recovery from cataract surgery takes longer than a few weeks. Your vision might seem blurry and cloudy immediately after cataract surgery, as your eyes will take some time to adjust to the removal of your cataract as well as the replacement with a new interocular lens implant (IOL). After cataract surgery the typical person will have clear vision within several hours of their procedure, while other patients may take up to a few weeks to see clearly. Your cataract surgeon or eye doctor will schedule one or more appointments with to ensure there are no complications.
Should You Exercise after Cataract Surgery?
It depends on the type of exercise.
Your cataract surgeon will advise you as to when you should resume exercises after cataract surgery. In general, you should only engage in low-impact activities such as walking and gentle stretching a week after your cataract surgery procedure.
Most cataract surgery patients can then proceed to moderate exercises after two weeks and more intense workouts after six weeks.
If you play sports, you should definitely discuss this with your cataract surgeon so he can properly advise you on when it is safe to resume playing sports.
Tips for a Speedy Recovery
Trusted Cataract Surgeons™ recommends that you should take precautions after you have cataract surgery to make your recovery period faster and uneventful. Here are a few precautions to keep in mind after you have cataract surgery:
- Avoid driving the first day after your procedure
- Do not preform strenuous physical activity for a few weeks after cataract surgery (and even you must, then discuss your needs fully with your cataract surgeon and/or regular eye doctor).
- Avoid bending immediately after cataract surgery since this will help avoid putting pressure on your eyes
- Walk carefully to avoid bumping into objects
- Avoid wearing eye makeup as directed by your eye doctor
- Wear sunglasses when going outdoors
- Avoid rubbing your eyes
- Avoid irritants like dust and dirt
- Avoid using a hot tub or swimming a few weeks after the surgery to avoid infections
Your doctor may also give you a protective shield to put on when sleeping. The shield prevents you from rubbing your eyes during the recovery phase.
Always follow all instructions given by your cataract surgeon and/or regular eye care doctor and ask questions if something is not clear.
To learn more about cataract surgery, please visit our comprehensive Cataract Surgery Discussion.
Find a Cataract Surgeon in our Trusted Cataract Surgeons Directory™
Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ is here to help you with all of your vision correction needs.
If you think that LASIK surgery would be good for you, find a local surgeon using our Trusted Cataract Surgeons™ Directory and our Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ Directory. At Trusted LASIK Surgeons™, we only feature the most qualified cataract surgeons in our directories.
All surgeons featured in our directories use FDA-accredited equipment during cataract surgery as well as other vision correction procedures like LASIK and Kamra-Inlay surgery in order to ensure your procedure is safe and effective.
You can also be assured of great support during your recovery period with any of the surgeons featured at Trusted LASIK Surgeons™.
All of the surgeons are vetted and highly qualified with proven expertise to perform LASIK and other vision correction procedures like Cataract Surgery, Kamra Inlay procedures (which can help with reading fine print in books or on labels), lens implant procedures, and Corneal Transplants.
If you are considering LASIK, PRK, or other vision correction surgery procedures, please consult our Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ Directory, where you can find skilled and reliable surgeon in your area..
All LASIK and cataract surgeons featured at Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ are screened to ensure you can find a surgeon who has proven expertise and one with professional accomplishments that have been recognized by their peers. To learn how we screen surgeons, please visit our discussion entitled “How are surgeons screened at Trusted LASIK Surgeons™”?