Cataract surgery is a straightforward procedure that usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. It's often carried out as day surgery under local anaesthetic and you should be able to go home on the same day.
How long does it take to do cataract surgery from start to finish? The procedure itself takes about 15 minutes to complete, depending on whether there are any complications. From arriving on the day of your surgery to leaving the hospital, it usually takes around two to three hours.
The eye is treated with prophylactic antibiotics to decrease the risk of infection. While the surgery usually takes 15 minutes, the entire operation must not be rushed. You should generally expect to spend about 3 hours at our day surgery centre for your cataract operation.
After cataract surgery, expect your vision to begin improving within a few days. Your vision may be blurry at first as your eye heals and adjusts. Colors may seem brighter after your surgery because you are looking through a new, clear lens.
1-3 days after the procedure: in the first 24-72 hours following your surgery, you'll likely experience blurry vision or double vision. It's not uncommon for patients to experience aching and tenderness while their eyes begin to heal.
After cataract surgery, you'll feel tired and want to rest for the remainder of the day. And if you still feel tired the next day, don't fight the temptation to get more sleep. Go with it. Sleeping a lot is how your body heals itself.
The most suitable sleeping position after cataract surgery is lying on the back. Doing so can help avoid severe postsurgery complications, such as blindness.
You can read or watch TV right away, but things may look blurry. Most people are able to return to work or their normal routine in 1 to 3 days. After your eye heals, you may still need to wear glasses, especially for reading.
Cataract surgery is not painful. While patients are awake during surgery, there is little or no discomfort involved. A mild sedative may be administered before the surgery, which calms the nerves, and eye drops are used to numb the eye.
Here are some things that you may want to avoid before and after cataract surgery to ensure that you heal properly. Avoiding eating and drinking before your surgery. Don't wear makeup to the surgery appointment, and avoid wearing makeup until your ophthalmologist allows it so that you can better prevent infection.
Although physically there is no reason why you cannot have cataracts in both eyes treated at the same time, it is generally not recommended. This is because it can take a number of weeks for the eyes to heal. During this time, your vision will still be compromised.
Some known risks of cataract surgery include infection, eye floaters, scar tissue formation, inflammation, lens dislocation, glare, halos, droopy eyelid, high eye pressure, retinal tear, or retinal detachment.
Don't: Eat or Drink Right Before the Surgery
While under sedation, there is a chance of stomach acid going into your lungs, which can cause damage. You will need to fast for about 12 hours before surgery to ensure you are safe from this effect.
After cataract surgery, your doctor will tell you to wear UV-protecting sunglasses for at least one year, even though your intraocular lens has a special UV coating too.
Various drapes will be placed over your face and shoulders to keep the operation area clean. You can still breathe normally. You will need to keep still and not talk during the surgery.
Blurry vision can vary from patient to patient—some people may have blurry vision for a day, while others experience blurriness for several days. While blurry vision is normal after surgery, blurred vision for weeks is concerning.
What Happens if You Bend Over After Cataract Surgery? You should not bend over after cataract surgery for at least 2 weeks. Bending over will place pressure on the eye and this may cause unnecessary complications to your eye. The main complication will be a delay in the healing process.
You will likely notice that you feel exhausted, especially once you get home after having cataract surgery. This is perfectly normal and you shouldn't try to fight it. Sleeping is a vital part of the healing process, but you will need to be careful.
It's usually considered safe to wash your hair and shower/bathe as normal after you have cataract surgery. However, you should keep your eyes closed and avoid getting any water or shampoo in your eye, and it's advisable to use a mild or baby shampoo. You should also avoid rubbing your eye.
Practice Breathing
Practice deep, even breathing before cataract surgery so you can remain calm and relaxed. Count as you breathe in, hold, and breathe out, and aim to count to the same number each time. You can also easily find tutorials for calming breathing exercises online.
Exposure to water can put your eyes at risk of infection or irritation until your eye has healed from surgery. “Give yourself at least one night of sleep before showering, and prevent the stream of water from hitting your eyes directly,” says Eghrari.
Bleeding during surgery is rare, but can occur if the retinal blood vessels begin to leak. Mild bleeding is not a cause for concern, but moderate to severe bleeding that leaks into the space between the cornea and iris, can cause vision loss.
According to MyVision.org, a nonprofit panel of experts who provide fact-based information on eye care, the average cost of cataract surgery is $3,500 per eye and can reach as high as $7,000 per eye.
It can take the brain a little time to adjust to the change, however. Every patient is different, but the typical blended vision surgery recovery time is around 6-8 weeks.