Cataract Surgery Recovery
Several of my own family members including my father, and also friends, have gone through cataract surgery with excellent results and easy recovery. The majority of patients experience no cataract surgery complications. In fact, they are rare. Cataract surgery, as discussed in a separate article, involves removing the faulty eye lens, and replacing it with an artificial lens. The implant used for cataract surgery is made of a type of plastic, not human tissue, so cannot be rejected. It will also not wear out. Most cataract surgery recovery is so successful, that patients go home the same day, although they do need someone to drive them home. They may wear a patch for awhile, and be given eye drops to use daily for possibly a couple of weeks, to control inflammation and infection. Your doctor will decide the time frame based on your specifics. Many patients resume a good deal of normal activity the next day. If you are still working, it may be recommended that you take some days off work, as with a couple of my friends and relatives. So scheduling this surgery before a weekend is ideal. Your doctor will, of course, give you an instruction sheet about cataract surgery recovery to take home. This will involve instructions on what to do and expect within the first 24 hours, the first week, and the first month, and then several months to a year thereafter. You will have return check-up visits the next day, and then again within a couple of weeks. Below is a general summary of what you can typically expect to occur during your cataract surgery recovery. However, you will obviously always consult your eye specialist and follow directions given. 
The first 24 hours -- It is recommended that you have someone to drive you home. Your eyes will be sensitive. And no matter what – don’t rub your eyes! During the first 24 hours your vision will be blurred. You’ll also have sensitivity to light, glare, and some eye discomfort. Several people I know saw halos or “auras” around objects. This will vary with the patient. Some patients experience a feeling of eye pressure, or a temporary ache or burning sensation. Those that I know who have had cataract surgery, have commented that discomfort is minimal, and they did not need to take a pain reliever. Your doctor may prescribe or give you a mild pain reliever, however. Most discomfort should disappear in a day or two. You should take it easy and rest for the first 24 hours of your cataract surgery recovery. There may also be a scratchy sensation. This could also be due to dry eyes, so your eye doctor may give you artificial tears. Many people are able to resume driving after the first 24 hours. When you have your follow-up visit, you can discuss this with your doctor. You will be given instructions for eye drops, which help the healing process and the eye pressure level. Some eye drops may slightly sting or burn. It is OK to gently clean around the eye area. But your doctor will tell you not to rub, touch, or put any pressure on the eye itself. You will also be given a patch to wear over your eye, even while you sleep, to protect it. Your doctor may schedule to see you again the next day. The first week -- You can expect that for the first week after your treatment for cataracts, your eyes and body are adjusting. You will continue to wear the eye patch during the night for awhile. Sensitivity to glare and light will lessen. It is normal for your eyes to be sensitive and may still feel scratchy when you blink, until the surgery heals. It’s important not to rub your eyes or get anything in them. Therefore eye makeup should be eliminated during the first couple weeks. Also avoid getting water in your eye or participating in water sports. No extreme sports (so don't plan that parachute jump quite yet), heavy activity and lifting during the first week of cataract surgery recovery. Heavy activity can affect the pressure in your eye. You may feel just fine, but your doctor will nevertheless advise you not to participate in heavy activity. Normal walking, light chores, and going up and down steps are fine. Within the first week of cataract surgery recovery, most people can see the improvement in their vision. They may also be ready to return to work. A month after -- At this point after your treatment for cataracts, your eye should be back to normal, although color perception may take a month or two more to stabilize. By this time your cataract surgery recovery is well under way, and you’re back to your full routine of activities. You may have dry eyes and will still be using eye drops. Since you have an artificial lens in your eye, your system and brain will still be adjusting to vision through the new lens. Healing will usually take at least six weeks. 
About a month after cataract surgery, you’ll be having a follow-up appointment with your doctor as well. At this point you may be checked for new glasses or contact lens, if needed. Your doctor may also schedule cataract eye surgery, if needed, on the second eye now (although some eye doctors do schedule the second eye sooner). Most of those that I know who the surgery, did need to have it in both eyes, as did my father. Although cataract surgery complications are rare and often in conjunction with other elderly issues, it is worth taking a look at this matter. See our separate article for important information to consider regarding complications. Be sure to also read: Cataract Symptoms and Causes -- How can you tell if a cataract is coming on, or if it even will. Are you at risk? (Is almost everybody?) Learn more information here. Treatment For Cataracts -- If you think you may need cataract treatment, or perhaps a loved one might, be sure to read this information. Cataract Surgery Complications -- If you do need to have cataract surgery, just what are the chances of complications? And what could happen? These are common questions people worry about. Read more.
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