You go home with printed instructions written for your eye. Follow those over anything on this page. This guide explains what is normal and why the usual precautions matter.
Call us straight away if you have
- pain that is getting worse, or a severe headache
- vision that is getting worse, not better
- increasing redness, eyelid swelling or discharge
- flashes, a shower of new floaters, or a shadow across your vision
What is normal
The eye is still healing for the first few weeks. It is normal to have:
- mild redness and some tenderness
- vision that improves gradually, and may go up and down at first
- sensitivity to light and glare
- a scratchy feeling, as if something is in the eye
- small dots or threads floating across your vision
- a dry feeling that comes and goes
These settle on their own. Lubricating drops help with dryness.
Your eye drops
Use the drops exactly as prescribed, until the bottle is finished, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. They prevent infection and control inflammation.
- Wash your hands before touching your eye or the bottles. This applies to whoever puts the drops in.
- Drops may sting or blur your vision for a moment. That is normal.
- Tell us if the drops cause lasting pain or itching, or your eyelids become red and swollen. A few people react to a drop or its preservative.
Keep taking your usual medicines for blood pressure, diabetes and other conditions unless you are told otherwise. Your doctor may pause blood thinners for a while; ask before surgery.
Protecting the eye
- Do not rub or press on the eye.
- Wear the shield or glasses you are given, especially when sleeping.
- Keep water, soap and shampoo out of the eye. Close your eyes when you wash your face or hair.
- Do not swim or play contact sports until your doctor says you can.
Everyday life
Modern cataract surgery allows a quicker return to normal life than older methods. Unless your instructions say otherwise, most people can soon walk, read, watch television, use their phone, eat normally and travel. Ask your doctor before driving, exercising, swimming, flying, dental work or anything else you are unsure about. The right time depends on your eye and your operation.
Follow-up visits
Keep every follow-up appointment, even if you feel fine. The doctor checks the eye pressure, the healing and your vision, and decides when you need glasses. Someone from the clinic will also call you the day after surgery.
Months or years later
If your vision becomes hazy again after a successful operation, the cataract has not come back. Usually the thin membrane behind the lens implant has clouded. A quick laser treatment clears it: see YAG laser capsulotomy.
This guide explains; it does not diagnose. Your doctor’s advice about your own eyes comes first.