The Do’s and Don’ts After Cataract Surgery

Quick answer: After cataract surgery, take it easy for a few days, use your prescribed eye drops and protective shield exactly as directed, and avoid rubbing your eye, heavy lifting, eye makeup, and swimming for several weeks. Most people recover fully within four to six weeks. Cataract surgery is one of the most common and safest procedures in medicine, and a few simple habits speed healing and protect your result.

Typical recovery times after cataract surgery

When can you go home?

Most people go home within a few hours of surgery. Your eye will usually be covered with a pad or clear shield, which stays on until the next day and is worn while sleeping for several days.

Normal symptoms in the first days

It is normal to notice some of the following, which generally ease within a few days and resolve within four to six weeks:

• Red or bloodshot eye
• Watery eye
• Grittiness or a foreign-body sensation
• Mild double or blurred vision
• Dry eye

Do’s after cataract surgery

• Take it easy for the first two to three days
• Use your eye drops exactly as instructed, and always wash your hands first
• Wear your eye shield at night and during naps for about a week
• Wear the shield when washing your hair
• Take over-the-counter pain relief if you need it
• Read, watch TV, and use the computer as normal
• Shower and bathe as usual
• Wear sunglasses outdoors

Don’ts after cataract surgery

• Don’t rub, touch, or press on your eye
• Don’t bend over for the first day after surgery
• Don’t lift heavy objects or do strenuous activity for the first few weeks
• Don’t drive until your surgeon clears you
• Don’t get soap, shampoo, dust, grit, or wind in your eye
• Don’t wear eye makeup for at least four weeks
• Don’t swim or use a hot tub for four to six weeks
• Don’t fly until your surgeon says it is safe

Gently cleaning your eye

If your eye feels sticky during the first couple of weeks, which is normal as it heals and from the drops, clean it gently: wash your hands, soak gauze in cooled boiled water, and wipe once from the nose side outward. Don’t wipe the inside of the eye, press on it, or use an eyewash.

When to call your surgeon

Complications are rare, but contact your eye doctor right away if you notice sudden vision changes, pain that isn’t controlled by over-the-counter relief, or a marked increase in redness or discharge. If blurred vision returns months or years later, it may be a common and easily treated clouding behind the lens. Learn about YAG laser treatment.

Cataract care at West Boca Eye Center

Regular eye exams are your best protection against cataracts and other vision problems. At West Boca Eye Center in Boca Raton, board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Brent Bellotte and our team provide advanced cataract surgery and personalized aftercare. Schedule your appointment to keep your vision at its best.