Cataract Surgery: What to Expect at Home
Your Recovery
You had cataract surgery. It replaced your cloudy natural lens with a clear artificial one.
After surgery, your eye may feel scratchy, sticky, or uncomfortable. It may also water more than usual.
Most people see better 1 to 3 days after surgery. But it could take 3 to 10 weeks to get the full benefits of surgery and to see as clearly as possible.
Your doctor may send you home with a bandage, patch, or clear shield on your eye. This will keep you from rubbing your eye. Your doctor will also give you eyedrops to help your eye heal. Use them exactly as directed.
You can read or watch TV right away, but things may look blurry. Most people are able to return to work or their normal routine in 1 to 3 days. After your eye heals, you may still need to wear glasses, especially for reading.
This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible.
How can you care for yourself at home?
Activity
- Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover.
- You may have trouble judging distances for a few days. Move slowly, and be careful going up and down stairs and pouring hot liquids. Ask for help if you need it.
- Ask your doctor when it is okay to drive.
- Wear your eye bandage, patch, or shield for as long as your doctor recommends. You may only need to wear it when you sleep.
- You can shower or wash your hair the day after surgery. Keep water, soap, shampoo, hair spray, and shaving lotion out of your eye, especially for the first week.
- Do not rub or put pressure on your eye for at least 1 week.
- Do not wear eye makeup for 1 to 2 weeks. You may also want to avoid face cream or lotion.
- Do not get your hair coloured or permed for 10 days after surgery.
- Do not bend over or do any strenuous activities, such as biking, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, for 2 weeks or until your doctor says it is okay.
- Avoid swimming, hot tubs, gardening, and dusting for 1 to 2 weeks.
- Wear sunglasses on bright days for at least 1 year after surgery.
Medicines
- Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. You will also be given instructions about taking any new medicines.
- If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.
- Follow your doctor's instructions for when to use your eyedrops. Always wash your hands before you put your drops in. To put in eyedrops:
- Tilt your head back, and pull your lower eyelid down with one finger.
- Drop or squirt the medicine inside the lower lid.
- Close your eye for 30 to 60 seconds to let the drops or ointment move around.
- Do not touch the ointment or dropper tip to your eyelashes or any other surface.
- Follow your doctor's instructions for taking pain medicines.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
When should you call for help?
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- You passed out (lost consciousness).
- You have severe trouble breathing.
- You have sudden chest pain and shortness of breath, or you cough up blood.
Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You have eye pain.
- You have pus draining from your eye.
- Your vision gets worse.
- Your eye is still red and bloodshot after 3 or 4 days.
- You notice new floaters, flashes of light, or changes in your field of vision.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if you have any problems.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
Enter R255 in the search box to learn more about "Cataract Surgery: What to Expect at Home".
Current as of: June 5, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
