After cataract surgery
Immediately afterwards
- Immediately after surgery, your vision will be blurred and may appear worse than it was before surgery. Most patients notice their vision gradually improving during the days after surgery.
- It will be safe for you to go home on the same day.
- A nurse will give you some eye drops to take home after the surgery, and explain when and for how long you need to use them.
When you get home
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After surgery, always wash and dry your hands before you touch the area around your eye, and before you apply eye drops. |
We advise you to rest when you get home. You can eat and drink as normal.
You can expect some/all of the following symptoms when you get home. They are all normal, and for most patients they resolve over a few days.
- Some discomfort or a gritty feeling or dull ache.
- Red, bruised, or bloodshot eye.
- Watery eye.
- Some stickiness of your eyelashes when you wake.
- Hazy or blurry vision and sensitivity to lights.
Pain
As the anaesthetic wears off you may feel some pain. This varies with each individual, but the pain will resolve. If necessary, take a mild painkiller such as paracetamol.
Try to relax as much as possible.
Within a few days most patients feel much better and their vision gradually improves.
Looking after your eye at home
Follow this guidance when you get home.
Eyeshield/eye pad
- Remove these 4 hours after you get home. Start using the eye drops we have given you.
- Wear the plastic shield at night only for the night after surgery (unless we tell you otherwise).
Eye drops
Continue with any medications you use for eye or other health problems (such as glaucoma) unless we tell you otherwise.
- Start using the eye drops we give you, as instructed. They will help your eye heal and prevent infection.
- Evenly space out the times you add drops during the day. A useful way is to remember to use them at mealtimes.
Wash your hands before using your drops.
Do not let anyone else use your eye drops.
Cleaning your eye
- Gently wipe your eyelids and eyelashes from the inside (near your nose) to the outside corner of your eye. Do this using either of the following:
- tissue or cotton pads moistened with cooled boiled tap water
- Lid-Care sterile wipes which you can buy from most pharmacies.
Do not wipe inside your eye.
Do not rub your eye for the first week after surgery.
Wearing glasses
Your current glasses may not be the correct strength after surgery.
It will not harm your operated eye if you continue to wear your old glasses to see better with the unoperated eye.
We will let you know when you can change your glasses when you come for your follow-up appointment.
If you have trouble reading, you can buy 'over-the-counter' reading glasses at most supermarkets or opticians. You can use these until you have a new glasses prescription.
Everyday activities after surgery
After surgery it is important to reduce the risk of infection.
We advise you to take it easy for at least a week after your surgery.
You must avoid environments or activities that might increase the risk of infection. For example avoid working in the garden, cleaning a dusty attic or swimming.
Do not carry out any activities which can press or squeeze the eye, so the incisions in your eye can heal properly. To help them heal, avoid lifting heavy weights or bending over excessively.
| Driving |
Patients often experience some sensitivity to light and blurred vision for a few days. You can return to driving when you feel confident that you can read a car number plate from 20 metres, without double vision. Visit the Association of Optometrists for information on DVLA legal driving safety standards. |
| Working | If your workplace is dust-free and involves no physical activity, you can return to work the next day. If not, we advise you to wait 1 to 2 weeks before returning to work. |
| Showering, bathing, hair washing |
You can have showers or baths. We advise you to use a mild or baby shampoo. Avoid getting soap in your eye. Keep your eyes closed when you wash your face. |
| Eye make-up | Do not wear eye make-up for at least 1 week. |
| Cooking | You can cook, but avoid exposing your face to steam (for example when boiling water). |
| Swimming and exercise |
Do not swim for 4 weeks after surgery. Stick to light exercise for 1 week. |
| Alcohol |
If we gave you sedation, do not drink for 24 hours. If we did not sedate you, you can drink after your surgery. |
| Child care |
If we gave you sedation, do not look after your children alone for 24 hours. If we did not sedate you, you can look after your children immediately after surgery. |
| Getting dressed and undressed | You can bend down to tie shoelaces, but avoid long periods of bending over. |
Emergency help
Get in touch with your nearest eye emergency service immediately if you experience any of the following:
- worsening eye pain
- worsening vision
- worsening eye redness
- nausea (feeling sick).
Opening hours and contact numbers
Kingston Hospital Eye Casualty
Galsworthy Road, KT2 7QB
8.30am to 4.30pm (last appointment at 4pm).
Closed on weekends and bank holidays.
No referral needed. Call the telephone triage system on 020 8934 6799.
St George's Hospital
Blackshaw Road, London SW17 0QT
8.30am to 6pm on weekdays.
24 hours on weekends and bank holidays.
Call the telephone triage system on 020 7702 5542 (option 6)
Contact information
Kingston Hospital Royal Eye Unit
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm