How long does it take to recover from cataract surgery?

After private cataract surgery in London, the patient needs a couple of weeks to get back to all the normal things they do on a day to day basis.

After the cataract surgery, the patient needs to wear eye protection, which is an eye shield or an eye pad over the operated eye, for 24 hours. Surgeons also recommend patients wear eye protection while sleeping, to prevent infections or other irritations, caused by scratching during sleep. Further, the patient should use eye drops for some weeks. It is also crucial that the patient attends a follow-up visit, so the surgeon can check the result and to ensure that everything has healed normally.

Some patients report that their vision seems cloudy, blurry or distorted after they first remove the eye protection. This is normal, as the visual system need some time to adjust after the operation. There are also many patients who have clear vision within several hours after the operation. This depends on the person, as everybody heals differently.

Usually, the healing process is fast. It may take a week or two until the patient can see images as sharply as they will. The patient can return to many everyday activities quickly. Driving, for example, is usually allowed one week after the cataract surgery, or as soon as the patient can see a number plate from 6 meters. Nevertheless, it is best for patients to check with their ophthalmologist (eye surgeon).

During the first week the patient should avoid heavy lifting and other strenuous activities. The patient may also notice that their eyes are red or bloodshot. This is nothing to worry about, because damaged blood vessels are causing irritation. This irritation should recede quickly.

In summary, cataract surgery is not a long-winded process. It is unusual that the patient experiences a long and arduous recovery process and isn’t back to normal more than a couple of weeks after the cataract surgery.