What to Expect After Cataract Surgery
Knowing what to expect after cataract surgery sets you up for a smooth recovery. Whether you elect to have dropless cataract surgery, laser cataract surgery, or to combine glaucoma and cataract surgery, it’s best to know in advance how you plan to handle driving after cataract surgery, exercising after cataract surgery, cooking after cataract surgery, and (potentially) blurred vision after cataract surgery.
Here are our 5 main suggestions for improving your chances of a stress-free recovery.
What to expect after cataract surgery: minimal driving
One of the first things you’ll need to do after cataract surgery is to go home and rest. However, since your eye will be bandaged and you’ll still be sedated, it’s best that you avoid driving home yourself. Before the surgery, then, it’s smart to designate a driver (be it a friend, family member, or taxi) for your transportation.
How long does it take to drive after cataract surgery? Most individuals are able to get back on the road within 24 hours of the operation!
Avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting
Exercise and heavy lifting can put pressure on your eyes. It’s fine for you to walk and to do very light physical work after your surgery, but most doctors recommend that you not bend over or lift objects for at least 24 hours after the surgery. In fact, they recommend that you avoid lifting and strenuous exertion completely until your eyes have healed.
What to expect after cataract surgery: less cooking duties
As with any surgery, your body is going to experience fatigue during your recovery time. For many, that fatigue has led to difficulty in finding the energy to cook regularly, or at all. If you like to cook, it’s wise to plan and prepare several weeks’ worth of meals before your surgery. If you don’t like to cook, purchasing pre-cooked meals before your surgery can save you a lot of unwanted stress.
Avoid swimming pools and hot tubs
Next to rubbing and touching your eyes frequently, getting into a swimming pool is perhaps the next worst thing you can do if you’re trying to prevent infections. Swimming after cataract surgery is to be avoided, as is lounging in a hot tub or sauna.
What to expect after cataract surgery: temporarily blurred vision
When we receive questions about what to expect after cataract surgery, many patients ask us about the potential for blurred vision, other vision problems, or even vision loss. These questions all relate to a larger question: what are the side effects of cataract surgery?
Some blurriness, waviness, glare, or cloudiness of vision is to be expected when you first remove your eye shield; it can take time for your eyes to grow accustomed to the removal of the cataract and/or the implementation of your new contact lenses. (Check out our blog for more information on multifocal lens for cataract surgery).
With that information in mind, the more important question might be how long does it take for blurriness to go away after cataract surgery. Happily, the majority of patients report that blurriness and cloudiness of vision goes away between 1 and 2 hours post-cataract surgery.
Expect quality service from Eye Center of Texas
The doctors and staff at Eye Center of Texas are your best resource for what expect after cataract surgery in Houston… and before cataract surgery and during cataract surgery! Whether you’re at the beginning of your research process and are still wondering, “Is cataract surgery safe?” or you’re at the stage where you’re looking for the best eye doctors in Houston, the Eye Center of Texas is here to help.
Thanks to Eye Center of Texas, thousands of Houstonians have enjoyed clear and renewed vision. Over 275 Houston-area eye doctors refer their patients only Eye Center of Texas, and Dr. Mark Mayo is listed as of the top 10 LenSx laser cataract surgeons in the United States.
To find out if cataract surgery is right for you, schedule an appointment today.
Related Resources:
- 8 Reasons to Consider Multifocal IOLs for Cataracts
- Fuchs Dystrophy and Cataracts: Your Surgery Options
- PRK after LASIK: What you need to know
- Understanding Fast-growing Cataracts
- Understanding Sun Damage to Eyes
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