Polarized lenses – Shop for cataract surgery sunglasses with polarized lenses, which reduce glare and are especially good for driving, says Dr. Khan. “They're going to give you a crisper image, and that comes in handy any time clarity of vision is important,” she says.
Often, it's a good idea to purchase a pair of glasses for use as needed after cataract surgery. To see your best at all distances, progressive lenses often are the best solution. If sensitivity to light is a problem, photochromic lenses that darken automatically in sunlight usually are a great choice.
Can you wear your old glasses after cataract surgery? As your vision should improve after surgery, it's most likely that your old prescription glasses will no longer work for your eyes.
How Long Should Cataract Sunglasses Be Worn Post Surgery? Most doctors recommend wearing sunglasses after cataract surgery for at least a week—and many doctors recommend up to a year.
In most cases, patients will require +1.25 D for computer use and +2.25 to 2.50 D for reading near. The rule of thumb is that if you want to see things closer, select a higher number like +3.00 D, and if you want to see farther away like at a music stand, choose +1.00 D.
Reading. Reading will be more enjoyable after cataract surgery, whether you select a monofocal IOL or a premium IOL. All IOLs can provide excellent up-close vision without glasses. After cataract surgery, you can read without using reading glasses again.
You'll still need reading glasses for close-up tasks like reading, but many Toric IOL patients are thrilled to go from needing to wear glasses or contacts all the time, to just needing glasses or contacts for close up tasks.
Inflammation. Inflammation in the eye can happen after cataract surgery, but it is typically harmless. Any inflammation within the eye following cataract surgery is the body's natural response to having the eye's lens removed. This reaction causes blurry vision, but your eye doctor can prescribe medication to help.
You should wear sunglasses after cataract surgery. Make sure the sunglasses you are wearing help to provide you with adequate protection from the sun's harmful UV rays. We recommend choosing a pair of sunglasses that are 100% UV protected.
The IOL that replaces your old lens is one of the most significant factors in whether you'll still need glasses after cataract surgery. Because normal IOLs don't correct in multiple ways, many patients still require some external correction.
“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.”
Once the eye has healed but before the second procedure has taken place, patients may experience vision imbalance, also known as anisometropia. This is the result of one eye having been operated on and the other still having cataracts.
take it easy for the first 2 to 3 days. use your eye shield at night for at least a week.
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.
You could even cause your cataracts to return as UV rays are one of the leading causes of cataracts. That's why doctors recommend you wearing sunglasses outside for the first year after your surgery.
Basically, the amount of light that enters the eye progressively gets reduced due to increasing opaqueness of the lens. Our brain and eye adapt to that to a certain extent. Due to this adaptation many people after cataract surgery notice increased brightness around them and in some cases it may be uncomfortable.
After cataract surgery, a person should focus on eating a nutritious diet that promotes healing. Foods to avoid include refined carbohydrates, sugar, salt, and processed foods. People should also avoid tobacco and alcohol, which can slow healing and increase inflammation.
Prescription Glasses and Cataracts
While prescription glasses cannot directly treat or cure cataracts, the right prescription lenses can help to correct blurry vision and other vision problems caused by cataracts.
Do not bend over or do any strenuous activities, such as biking, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, for 2 weeks or until your doctor says it is okay. Avoid swimming, hot tubs, gardening, and dusting for 1 to 2 weeks. Wear sunglasses on bright days for at least 1 year after surgery.
In addition to wearing your eye shield at night, you will also want to avoid sleeping on the side that has been operated on. By reducing irritation, you can decrease your risk of infection and speed your recovery process. This is why your doctor tells you not to sleep on your side after cataract surgery.
How long before you can sleep on your side after cataract surgery? People should try to avoid sleeping on the same side of the operated eye for 1 week. However, if they wear a protective shield securely overnight, their eye should have enough protection, even if they unintentionally end up sleeping on that side.
There are two different philosophies: fix the eye with complications first and then restore it to good / acceptable vision, then you can operate on the second eye. operate on the eye with better visual potential and a more straightforward surgery first, then attempt a revision of the eye with complications.
Post-surgery, it's common for vision to be blurry for a few days. Many people can drive again within 24 hours. However, it's highly recommended you do not drive until you've seen your eye doctor after the surgery. Your ophthalmologist may recommend you wait a few more days before driving.
As such, most surgeons recommend that you opt to have the procedure performed one eye at a time and allow the first to heal fully and your vision to stabilize before having treatment on the other. This normally means a minimum of a few weeks between surgeries.
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.