Cataract surgery has high rates of both success and safety, with Harvard Medical School explaining that the treatment is “low-risk, fast, and effective.” Over 98 percent of patients report no outstanding issues. However, in that 1-2 percent, there is still some risk when it comes to cataract surgery.
Each year, eye surgeons perform more than 3 million cataract surgeries in the U.S. It's estimated the success rate for restoring full vision to cataract patients tops 90%.
Cataract surgery poses certain risks. You may need to stop taking medications prior to surgery, which could put your health at risk. After surgery, your eyes need to heal, and you'll have to wear an eye patch for several days. You might experience itching, discomfort, or pain during this process.
Blurred vision is a common reaction to cataract surgery because your eyes need time to heal and adjust to the lens your doctor implanted.
Straight after surgery, patients will usually see in soft focus. The following day vision should be clearer. Some patients see the improvement in several hours, though most take 24-48 hours. It can occasionally take 1-2 weeks for vision to settle while the eye adapts to the new intraocular lens implant (IOL).
Some Don'ts: Things to Avoid
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. Avoid getting irritants in your eyes.
Do not rub or put pressure on your eye for at least 1 week. Do not wear eye makeup for 1 to 2 weeks. You may also want to avoid face cream or lotion. Do not get your hair coloured or permed for 10 days after surgery.
Endophthalmitis is a serious complication of cataract surgery involving microorganisms that gain entry into the eye. Risk factors for the development of endophthalmitis include rupture of the posterior capsule or the need for anterior vitrectomy during the procedure, age greater than 85 years, and male sex.
If you're unable to get hold of them, visit your local optometrist or GP, or go to a hospital emergency. Red flags include: Loss of vision, whether increasing blur or entire areas of black/grey in your visual field. Any discharge from the eye.
Patients with a dislocated IOL may experience a decrease or change in vision, diplopia, and/or glare. Additionally, they may report ocular pain or headaches from intermittent angle-closure and/or inflammation. Some patients also report seeing the edge of the IOL.
“High eye pressure can interfere with the incision before it fully heals,” says Eghrari. “Positions that put your head below your waist, such as bending over, can also increase eye pressure and should be avoided initially after surgery.”
Protective glasses are prescribed after cataract surgery. But for the purpose of reading, you can use your old glasses for up to 3 weeks until the refractive power of the operated eye stabilises, after which your doctor will prescribe new glasses.
Cataract surgery and sunglasses
Either way, the surgery has still left your retina vulnerable, and even if you have an IOL with that UV coating, you're still at risk to eye damage due to UV rays. You could even cause your cataracts to return as UV rays are one of the leading causes of cataracts.
It's estimated that around 80% of patients see colours during their cataract surgery. The most common colours are blue and red, although pink, yellow, green, purple, turquoise and orange have also been reported. Nearly all patients who see these colours during their cataract surgery say that it's a pleasant experience.
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.
Your eye may look pinkish after cataract surgery and there may even be some bright red localised bruising.
How long should you wear an eye shield after cataract surgery? People may need to wear an eye shield for 1 week after surgery.
Aside from blurriness, some individuals also experience a temporary vision imbalance known as anisometropia. Anisometropia typically lasts just a few days after surgery and can lead to double vision or issues with depth perception.
How long after cataract surgery can you bend over? While it may seem an odd question, bending over or leaning forward for any length of time can put pressure on your eye. This can affect the healing process. Try to avoid bending over for the first two weeks after surgery.
For example, tying up shoes or putting on pants. It is important to avoid bending over as much as possible, but accidentally bending over once or twice after cataract surgery will likely not cause any issues. Prolonged bending over is where problems can occur.
You should also avoid lifting anything that weighs more than 5 to 10 pounds. Because heavy lifting and other strenuous activities involve a temporary increase in blood pressure, these actions put particular pressure on your eyes.
Your lens is held in place by delicate fibers called zonules. If you've had an eye lens replacement for cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange, your intraocular lens implant (IOL) is held in place by a small sac and these thin fibers.
Sometimes blurry vision is caused by PCO, a fairly common complication that can occur weeks, months or (more frequently) years after cataract surgery. It happens when the lens capsule, the membrane that holds your new, intraocular lens in place, becomes hazy or wrinkled and starts to cloud vision.