Cataract Surgery Care Post Op

Modern cataract surgery is an amazing operation utilizing advanced technology and techniques developed by dedicated physicians and industry over many decades. Appreciate what we can do today. 50 years ago cataract removal was full of complications. Patients wore thick heavy glasses or thick contact lenses after surgery for the rest of their life. Now we can implant a tiny lens inside the eye at the time of cataract removal creating natural vision without glasses or contact lens. Multifocal intraocular lenses now allow post op cataract patients to see distance, intermediate, and close without glasses.

After surgery, a shield will be taped over your eye. Wear it for the next 5 nights when sleeping or napping. 

Your eye may be red and irritated for a few days or weeks after surgery. Do not panic. This is normal. Artificial tears can be used 4 to 6 times per day to relieve these symptoms.

Do not rub your eye.  The cataract surgery wound will be well healed in about 3 months and it will be safe to gently rub the eye.

You may shower, bathe, and shave with care the day after surgery. Don’t rub the eye. Do not swim or perform strenuous exercise for one week. Golf, walking, biking and jogging are fine the day after surgery. Restrict exposure to dust and dirty environments and make up for two days.

If a toric lens was implanted to correct your astigmatism, avoid abrupt head movements so the lens doesn’t rotate off axis. 

Patients with toric or standard lenses will receive a prescription for glasses 2 to 3 weeks after surgery. Your insurance may pay for part of the cost of the lens and frames. Check with our Optical Department.

Serious post-operative complications are not common.  If you have unusual symptoms such as increasing pain, decreasing vision, or extreme light sensitivity please call us.

Please be patient. It takes approximately 3 months for the eye to recover from cataract surgery and the vision may change during this time. Up to 6 months is needed for the brain to adapt to the intraocular lens and the new vision.

You may drive if your vision meets DMV requirements.  Discuss this with Dr. Wilmarth.