Recovering from cataract surgery should be relatively short and unexciting especially when your health is good and there aren’t any other major issues with your eyes.  Based on statistics, once a cataract has been removed your chances of an excellent outcome and sharper vision.

Cataract surgeries without complications most often takes under ten minutes from start to finish.  Right after surgery patients will rest in a recovery room until the affects of sedation and anesthesia wear off.  Recovery usually lasts anywhere between a half hour to an hour. You will not be able to see clearly right away so it is important to have someone available to drive you home after cataract surgery.  Patients are given a pair of sunglasses for the ride home to protect their eyes from the sunshine and light glare.

Once patients are at home they are advised to take it easy for the rest of the day.  Your surgeon will tell when you can take off the protective shield that has been placed over your eye.  This is usually possible after several hours however, it is important to follow the instructions that you are given for your unique situation.  Remember that you will need to use the protective shield when you are sleeping for protection while your eye is recovering from surgery.  This will need to be done for several days.

Recovery Time

Your vision will appear cloudy and distorted for awhile once you have removed the shield from your eye.  Your vision can take some time to adjust after the removal of a cataract.  Once your eye adapts to the intraocular lens that has replaced your natural lens the cloudiness in your eye will disappear. However, during this process some patients mention that their vision is a bit wavy and distorted.  If you experience this, it is important to note that it should last only about an hour.

After cataract surgery you may notice that your eyes are redder and bloodshot.  This is temporary because of damage to the blood vessels on the surface of the white part of your eye that can occur during surgery.  As your eye heals from cataract surgery this redness will disappear.

Many cataract patients report that their vision is clear within hours after surgery.  This however, varies from patient to patient.  Each person heals at a different speed.  It is crucial that you do not rush your recovery.  Even though some patients see clearly within hours of surgery some take as long as a week or two before they see sharp images.

Cataract patients will most often see their surgeon the day after their surgery to look for signs of complications.  After this period, it will be up to each patient individually to contact their surgeon if they have concerns or don’t feel the improvement in their vision is occurring how they thought it would.

Some people report dry, scratchy eyes right after cataract surgery however, as your eye begins to heal this will slowly fade.  About a month after cataract surgery patients are considered recovered and their eyes should be completely healed.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to suit your lifestyle and visual needs.  As a leader in laser vision correction and cataract surgery, our goal is to help you achieve the best vision possible without glasses or contact lenses.  More information can be found online at https://michiganlasik.com