Recovering After Cataract Surgery — What to Expect, Week by Week

Cataract surgery is quick, but the healing that follows still deserves a little care. Happily, recovery is usually smooth, comfortable and fast. Here is a realistic picture of what to expect.

The first 24 to 48 hours

At first your vision may be blurry, watery or a little sensitive to light, which is completely normal as the eye settles. You might feel a mild grittiness, as though there is an eyelash in the eye. Rest, resist any urge to rub it, and start your prescribed eye drops exactly as advised. Many people already notice brighter, clearer vision within a day.

The first week

Vision keeps sharpening through the week. It helps to:

• Use your eye drops on schedule, since they prevent infection and settle inflammation.
• Avoid rubbing or pressing the eye.
• Keep water, dust and soap out of the eye, and skip swimming for now.
• Hold off on heavy lifting and strenuous exercise.
• Wear the protective shield at night if you were given one.

Everyday activities like reading, watching television and light walking are generally fine.

Weeks two to four

By now the eye is well on its way to full healing. Most restrictions ease off, and if your spectacle number needs changing, that is usually finalised around this point, once the eye has stabilised. Follow-up visits confirm that everything is healing as it should. There is a fuller walkthrough in our recovery guide.

Warning signs, and please don’t wait

Contact us promptly if you notice:

• Increasing pain instead of steady improvement.
• A sudden drop in vision.
• Growing redness, discharge, or a curtain or shadow across your vision.
• New flashes, or a shower of floaters.

These are uncommon, but they are worth acting on quickly.

For the most part, healing here is simply patience and good habits: a few careful weeks traded for years of clearer sight.

This article is general information, not a substitute for a personal consultation. If you have concerns after your surgery, please get in touch.