What to Expect
What Post-Operative Care is Necessary?
Patients usually return home from the hospital or the surgery center about 30 minutes after cataract surgery. A clear plastic shield will be placed over the operated eye for about an hour after the surgery, and you will need to be careful to wear sunglasses when you go outside. The operated eye must not be bumped or treated roughly. Eye drops should be used daily as instructed. A moist, warm compress may be applied gently to aid cleaning, comforting, and healing of the eye. Some mild discomfort may occur but aspirin or Tylenol is usually sufficient to relieve this. Heavy lifting and deep bending are to be avoided for one week after surgery. It is important to wear sunglasses when out in the bright sun during the first two weeks after surgery.
Three weeks of healing are necessary before fitting of new prescription glasses, if needed. With an intraocular lens, only thin regular glasses will be required, unlike the thick cataract glasses used many years ago. Medicare insurance helps pay the cost of the first pair of glasses after cataract surgery. Often with the new multifocal lens implants, patients are able to function perfectly with no glasses at all!
General Advice Following Cataract Surgery
After complete healing, patients may return to normal activity with no restrictions. Physical exertion, including heavy work, will not harm the eye. Use of the eyes for reading, sewing or any other normal visual tasks cannot cause damage. Naturally, fatigue may follow prolonged use of the eyes, whether operated on or not, but this is not harmful.
Dark glasses or clip-ons may be used in bright sunlight for comfort. Do not lay your glasses down so that the glass or plastic lens touch hard surfaces or scratches will result, especially with plastic lenses.
We use the most modern effective methods available for cataract surgery including topical anesthesia, multifocal lens implants, phacoemulsification, small incision technique, and no stitches. The lens implant is expected to function perfectly for as many years as you need it. You can and should be fully active following recovery from your cataract surgery and we hope you enjoy your clearer, brighter vision, and less dependence on glasses for the rest of your life.