What is recovery like after cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery Encinitas Carlsbad San Diego
A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of the eye. By blocking light from entering the eye, cataracts can interfere with vision and can even cause blindness. Fortunately, cataract surgery is effective for addressing this problem and restoring vision. This involves removing the damaged natural lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. In fact, cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in the US.
Many people are wondering what the recovery will be like after they have cataract surgery. It’s helpful to know a bit about what to expect so that you can plan. What’s the recovery like after having cataract surgery?
Is cataract surgery painful?
In general, cataract surgery is not painful. During the procedure, you’ll receive anesthetic eye drops to numb your eye, ensuring that you won’t feel pain. As the anesthetic wears off, many people notice that their eye feels a little irritated or tender. There may be a sensation as though there’s a little grit in your eye.
Can you rub your eyes after cataract surgery?
It’s very important to avoid any direct touching of your eyes, including rubbing your eyes. It’s often very tempting to rub your eyes, because you may feel like there’s grit in your eye. However, this can disrupt your healing, so it’s important to avoid it for at least a week. You’ll be given a plastic shield to wear over your eye to help protect it. You’ll also need to avoid direct trauma to your eye
What can you do on the first day after cataract surgery?
Most people receive a sedative medication to help them stay relaxed during the procedure. Even though you won’t feel any pain because of the anesthetic eye drops, most people feel more comfortable with the sedative. Because of this, you won’t be able to drive yourself home from your cataract surgery. You should plan to have a trusted family member or friend drive you to and from your procedure.
You’ll have a dressing over your eye after the procedure. You can take this off before bed, but you’ll need to wear your plastic shield over your eye to protect it, especially at night.
When can you exercise after cataract surgery?
It’s important to give your body time to heal after any surgical procedure. In general, it’s best to avoid strenuous exercise for at least two weeks after the procedure. You’ll also want to avoid bending over or lifting heavy objects during this period. These activities can raise the pressure inside your eye, which can interfere with your healing.
How long after cataract surgery can you shower?
It’s crucial to avoid getting anything in your eye for at least a week to two weeks after your procedure. While you can go ahead and shower, you’ll want to ensure that you don’t get any shampoo, soap, or water from the shower in your eye. This means you’ll want to be very careful with washing your face and hair.
You’ll want to avoid putting on any eye makeup for this period of time as well. It’s also better to avoid putting lotion or other products on the face as well, because it’s easy for these to get into the eye. You’ll also need to avoid swimming or going into a hot tub, as well as activities that can cause dust or dirt to get into your eye, like gardening.
Is vision better right after cataract surgery?
People generally do see better immediately after surgery, because the light entering their vision is no longer blocked. However, vision is usually a little blurry during the early recovery period. Over the next few days to weeks, as your body recovers, your vision will get better and better.
How long does it take to recover from cataract surgery?
In general, the healing process takes about 4 weeks. After this period, you’ll be able to get a sense of what your final results are. In some cases, vision may continue to improve for 8 to 12 weeks after surgery. You’ll have a follow-up appointment with your eye doctor after about a month, which will allow them to check on your healing process and address any issues that may have arisen.
Cataract surgery Encinitas Carlsbad San Diego
If you or a loved one is bothered by cataracts, there’s a simple procedure that can address the problem and restore vision. If you’re here in the greater San Diego area, please come to our office for an evaluation by one of our expert eye doctors. After an eye exam and learning more about what you’re experiencing with your vision, we can let you know whether cataract surgery is likely to be a good option for you. We can also talk you through your various artificial lens options. Simply contact our front desk to schedule your appointment.
