After cataract surgery

Your vision might be blurry for the first week after surgery. Please follow our instructions to look after your eye or eyes:

• the evening after your surgery
• the day after your surgery
• the weeks after surgery

It is normal to experience some redness, watering, or grittiness of the eye, but you should never have severe pain. Your symptoms should gradually improve as time passes.

Your vision may take a few weeks to get better. If you have any other conditions (such as diabetes, glaucoma or macular degeneration) your vision might still be limited after surgery.

If you usually wear contact lenses, you can wear a lens in the eye that has not been operated on.

If you use eye drops for glaucoma, you can continue using these unless the doctor has asked you to stop. 

The evening after your surgery

The evening and night after your surgery, please follow our instructions.

An eye pad and shield (or just a shield) will be placed over the eye after surgery. Keep this on overnight. Do not touch or remove it.

Rest and take things slowly for the first 24 hours. Take extra care when stepping off pavements and when going up or down stairs, as your depth perception may be affected.

Activities like watching TV and reading will not cause any harm. However, we recommend avoiding boiling kettles, stoves and other hazards until you can see clearly. You should also get advice from your doctor before driving.

Symptoms after surgery

On the night of your operation, you might have some mild discomfort. Please take simple painkillers (such as paracetamol or ibuprofen) if you need them.

Your pupil may be enlarged for up to 48 hours after surgery. Both this and the removal of the cataract, may make your vision seem brighter. You may find it more comfortable to wear sunglasses until this wears off. 

If you have any questions, please call the day case unit for advice. Phone 020 7188 9545, or 020 7188 6564 (Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 7.30pm).

If you are concerned about your vision, or your symptoms get worse, please contact the rapid access clinic. Phone: 020 7188 4336 (Monday to Friday, 08.30am to 4pm).

If you have severe pain or your vision is worsening very quickly, it is an emergency. Outside of these hours, go to your nearest A&E. 

The day after your surgery

For routine cataract surgery, we do not need to see you the next day, unless your surgeon has told you otherwise. You should have a post-operative check in a few weeks. 

Cleaning your eye and eye shield 

When you wake up the morning after surgery, remove the plastic eye shield. Gently clean any discharge from around the eyelids using a clean tissue, then start using the prescribed eye drops. 

You should wear the eye shield at night for 1 week after surgery to protect the eye while you sleep. It can be secured with tape. Wash the eye shield every day using warm water and soap, then rinse and dry it carefully.

Sometimes, you may be asked to attend the clinic the morning after surgery for a check. If this applies to you, remove the eye shield, clean the eye, and use your eye drops at home before travelling to the hospital. 

The weeks after surgery

In the weeks after surgery, or until you've had your follow up appointment, make sure you:

• use your eye drops
• do not knock or rub your eye. If your eye waters, wipe it gently with a clean tissue 
• do not get soap, shampoo or products in your eye
• avoid wearing any eye makeup until your eye has healed 
• do not do energetic exercises or lift heavy objects
• do not go swimming, or do any gardening for at least 1 month
• do not play contact sports for at least 1 month, and when you do restart, build up gradually 
• do not bend down
• use simple painkillers if you have any pain or discomfort
• contact us if your symptoms get worse
• wait before getting new glasses

Using your eye drops

The eye drops you have been given should help with any irritation. You will usually need to use these eye drops for up to 4 weeks after surgery.

1. Wash your hands in the morning after you wake up, and feel alert.
2. Boil water (or ask someone to do this if you can't see clearly) and pour some into a clean container.
3. Leave the water to cool down.
4. Use cotton wool or a cotton pad to gently bathe around your eye. Wipe from the inside of your eye outwards once, and then use fresh cotton wool. 
5. Wash your hands again.
6. Use your eye drops as prescribed.

Please take your prescription to your GP if you need more eye drops. Allow enough time for the repeat prescription to be ready. It's important that you finish your treatment as prescribed.

We cannot supply you with any further drops.

Driving after surgery

You should only drive again when you are free of pain and can do an emergency stop comfortably. Check with your insurance company to make sure you are covered to start driving again. They might refuse to meet a claim if they feel you have driven too soon.

If you are taking painkillers, check with your pharmacist to see if they might affect your ability to drive safely. You will also find information about this in the leaflet that comes with your medicine. Do not drive if:

• you feel drowsy or dizzy
• cannot concentrate or make decisions
• you have blurred or double vision

Do not drive after taking your medicines until you know how they affect you.

If you are not sure about when to start driving again, please contact your GP.

You can read UK laws about driving with or after an illness. It is your responsibility to inform the DVLA about any conditions.

Glasses after surgery

In most cases, the aim of surgery is for you to see as well as possible without glasses for distance. However, you will need new reading glasses after surgery.

You should wait until after your follow up appointment to visit your local optician.

If you are having cataract surgery on the other eye, you might want to wait until you have had surgery on both eyes before getting new glasses.

Sometimes, you might end up being more long-sighted or short-sighted than planned. If this happens, you might need a stronger glasses prescription or another procedure.

Follow up appointment

You will have a follow up appointment after surgery. This is usually within 6 weeks after surgery.

If there were no problems during your operation, you will be asked to make an appointment with an optician near you.

If this is not suitable for you then we will send you information about a follow-up appointment at hospital.  

Please ask us if you have any questions about this before leaving the hospital after your surgery.