HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO HEAL AFTER CATARACT SURGERY?
What do we mean by “to heal” in cataract surgery? This can mean different things for different people.
Summary:
Most routine cataract surgery cases “heal” in 5-30 days, depending on a patient’s age, cataract density, eye risk factors (ie, narrow angle, short eye, previous eye surgery, DM, uveitis hx, macular issues, etc). If a patients is healthy, young (<60yo), soft cataract, has an experienced surgeon, no complications, standard IOL is placed, recovery usually 5-7 days. Drops are continued for wks most cases.
Breakdown:
Note this is a general, rough, guideline, with many exceptions according to a patient’s particular risk profile.
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Note: There are exceptions to all categories.
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Non-complicated, “Easy” case or Soft Cataract
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Complex Cataract: Hard Cataract
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Complicated Cataract or complication occurred
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Day of Surgery:
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Vision will be blurry, but may see better than before surgery. Rarely will have nausea or vomiting. May have tearing, foreign body sensation (FBS), which is within healthy limits.
Use drops as directed often 3 drops uses 1-2 times per day.
Take nap & rest.
No bending, lifting, straining for 5-7days. May watch tv if not uncomfortable. Have had patients return to their business that day or next if needed for couple of hours, though not recommended. Should not do anything that makes eye feel more pain, irritation, pressure.
*Usually this is the worst vision, pain you should every have in this eye: if ever have worsening pain, vision, flashing lights, burst of black floaters, or curtain coming over vision, call eyeMD asap!
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Eye will be very blurry & may see worse than before surgery. May have some nausea, vomiting. Eye will have tearing, a foreign body sensation (FBS). Use drops as directed often 3-4 drops uses 1-8 times per day. May need to take Diamox pill a couple of times during day & next day.
Take nap & rest.
No bending, lifting, straining for 7days.
*Usually this is the worst vision, pain you should every have in this eye: if ever have worsening pain, vision, flashing lights, burst of black floaters, or curtain coming over vision, call eyeMD asap!
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Eye will be very blurry & may see worse than before surgery; may have severe vomiting, nausea: could also be from retained viscoelastic, which is not a complication, but let your eyeMD know asap. Use drops as directed often 3-5 drops uses 1-10 times per day. May need to take Diamox pill a few times during day & next day.
Take nap & rest.
No bending, lifting, straining for 7 days or depending on what your eyeMD recommends.
*Usually this is the worst vision, pain you should every have in this eye: if ever have worsening pain, vision, flashing lights, burst of black floaters, or curtain coming over vision, call eyeMD asap!
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1 Day after Surgery
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Vision will be improving.
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Eye may still be very blurry.
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Eye will be very blurry still.
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5-7 Days after Surgery
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Vision should be very close to best final vision. Can have 2nd eye done a few days between in most cases. Refraction may be possible, but theoretically steroid drops can alter glasses refraction so MD may suggest waiting till off all steroid drops: about 1 month after surgery.
May resume gentle cleaning of eyelids/lid hygiene.
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Vision should be continuing to improve. Vision may still be very blurry often due to energy used to remove dense cataract, causing the cornea to be filled with fluid (edema). This may take 1-3 months to fully resolve. May resume gentle cleaning of eyelids/lid hygiene.
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Vision may still be very blurry often due to energy used to remove dense cataract, causing the cornea to be filled with fluid (edema). This may take 1-4 months to fully resolve.
May resume gentle cleaning of eyelids/lid hygiene if eyeMD recommends.
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30 Days after
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Vision should be stable and you might be off all drops.
If vision is still hazy or was excellent and then becomes hazy, it could be due to a Posterior Capsular Opacification (PCO), which may require a YAG laser procedure (usually takes 3-5minutes in office, fully covered procedure); usually needed in 10-20% of patients even in uncomplicated cases.
Pain or light sensitivity after cataract surgery most often is due to “rebound iritis” requiring re-starting steroid medication. Still, call your EyeMD to be sure no infection present.
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Vision may still be improving and may need to continue drops for 2-3 months.
If vision is still hazy or was excellent and then becomes hazy, it could be due to a Posterior Capsular Opacification (PCO), which may require a YAG laser procedure (usually takes 3-5minutes in office, fully covered procedure); usually needed in 10-20% of patients even in uncomplicated cases.
Pain or light sensitivity after cataract surgery most often is due to “rebound iritis” requiring re-starting steroid medication. Still, call your EyeMD to be sure no infection present.
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Vision may still be improving and may need to continue drops for 3-4 months. If vision does not improve after a few months or cornea swelling gets worse, a secondary procedure to treat the cornea, like a type of corneal transplant or corneal transplant, may be needed.
If vision is still hazy & cornea is clear or was excellent and then becomes hazy, it could be due to a Posterior Capsular Opacification (PCO), which may require a YAG laser procedure (usually takes 3-5minutes in office, fully covered procedure); usually needed in 10-20% of patients even in uncomplicated cases.
Pain or light sensitivity after cataract surgery most often is due to “rebound iritis” requiring re-starting steroid medication. Still, call your EyeMD to be sure no infection present.
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