What To Expect After Cataract Surgery Q & A


Will I have to use eye drops?
Yes. You will be using eye drops for 6 weeks after your cataract surgery. Your doctor will
instruct you on how you should be using them and when you should stop.

What are the activity limitations?
All daily activities other than strenuous athletics may be undertaken after the first postoperative day. Athletics may be resumed after one week but the operative eye must
be protected by safety glasses against a direct blow. Safety glasses for sports are strongly advised for protection of both eyes at all times for the rest of your life.

How will I feel immediately after surgery?
You may be a little drowsy and may not remember much about the operation or you may be quite awake and alert. This partly depends on the type of medication that was used to make you drowsy before the operation. After surgery, most patients are surprised at how easy the whole experience was.

What can I do immediately after surgery?
You may eat and drink, sit up in a chair, and also walk and go to the
bathroom with assistance.

Will there be stitches in my eye after surgery?
In most cases, no sutures are needed. Dr. Steinert creates a small incision with a "valve" that seals itself.

Sometimes, a few weeks after surgery, your surgeon may cut some stitches to give the eye a better shape. This, too, is completely painless and is done in your doctor's office.

Will my vision be perfectly clear immediately after surgery?
Most people see very well soon after surgery. Your best vision requires complete healing of 1-3 months.

How soon after surgery may I use the operated eye?
The next day. There is no harm in using it for almost any visual task.

What will my eye feel like during the first few days after surgery?
It is normal for you to feel some minor irritation for a few days to a few weeks after surgery. As the tissues of the eye heal, this foreign body sensation will diminish and finally disappear.

What about physical activity after surgery?
Due to advances in surgical technique, your physical activity after cataract surgery is not as restricted as it was in the past. There is no restriction on regular activities such as walking, riding, or shopping. You should avoid lifting heavy objects, bending over so that your head is below the level of your waist, jogging or doing other vigorous physical exercise until permitted by your surgeon.

Can I rub or press my eye after cataract surgery?
No, not for at least six weeks.

When can I shower and wash my hair?
You may take a shower from the neck down right after surgery. It is important that soap and shampoo do not contact the operated eye. This will help avoid irritation of the eye. During this time, a family member, a friend, or your hairdresser can wash your hair while you are lying back, but you should wear your metal shield and an eye pad over the operated eye. After one week you can resume normal showering and shampooing.

Will I have to wear eyeglasses after surgery?
Even though an implant has been placed in the eye, eyeglasses are usually needed to help refine your vision and make it clear. The eyeglasses you may need may have thin lenses and will not be like the thick "coke bottle" glasses which people used to wear years ago when implants were not used. If you wear eyeglasses now, you will probably need to change the lens over the operated eye a few weeks after surgery.

When can I resume driving?
Since the vision in the unoperated eye varies from one patient to another, it is best to ask your surgeon what is appropriate for you. However, if the vision is good in this eye, you will likely be able to drive several days after surgery.

When can I go back to work?
This depends on the type of work you do. If you have a desk job, you may return to work within a few days. If you have a job that involves lifting heavy objects, you may wait between 1 and 6 weeks. Ask your surgeon.