Because vision is temporarily affected by cataract surgery, only one eye can be corrected at a time. In most cases, you'll need to wait for 2 to 6 weeks for your eye to heal completely before proceeding with the second eye. This allows the eye doctor to ensure everything is healing properly without complications.
The surgeon will discuss this with you if this is an option. Otherwise, surgery is done 6 to 12 weeks apart to allow the recovery one eye at a time.
Delaying cataract surgery leads to progression of the grade of cataract. Depending on the type and grade of cataract, the delayed cataract surgery can become a risky procedure. The amount of energy needed to emulsify the hard lens increases and this can cause damage to the surrounding structures.
It is very common to have blurry or unclear vision in the days and sometimes even weeks after cataract removal. Most of the time, this is caused by normal swelling in the eye which occurs as a part of surgery. Patients with larger, denser and/or firmer cataracts are more likely to experience more inflammation.
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.
Of 280 patients surveyed, 45.4% said that surgery on their second eye was a generally less pleasant experience compared to 13.5% who listed the first eye. The remainder felt the experience was similar.
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.
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.
Wear Your Old Glasses
While you are recuperating, doctors will advise you not to get new prescription glasses. It's best to do this after you have recovered from the second operation because of the vision imbalance. The pair of glasses you get will only end up being useful for a few months or weeks in this case.
Sleep As Much As You Need To
You will likely notice that you feel exhausted, especially once you get home after having cataract surgery. This is perfectly normal and you shouldn't try to fight it. Sleeping is a vital part of the healing process, but you will need to be careful.
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.
In most people, cataracts start developing around age 60, and the average age for cataract surgery in the United States is 73.
A long-term consequence of cataract surgery is posterior capsular opacification (PCO). PCO is the most common complication of cataract surgery. PCO can begin to form at any point following cataract surgery.
There is probably little to no difference between the two in visual outcomes, one to three months after surgery. There was probably little to no difference between the two in the answers people gave in questionnaires after surgery. The questionnaires asked about visual function and patient satisfaction with vision.
You should continue to wear sunglasses for at least a few weeks after your surgery. This will help to protect your eyes as they heal. After a few weeks, you can start to wear them less often. However, you should still put them on whenever you are going to be in the sun for an extended period of time.
You will not harm your eyes by wearing your old glasses. However, you may prefer not wearing them since, in most cases, your vision will have improved after surgery, in particular your distance vision.
It is best to wait a few days after surgery to get temporary reading glasses to allow for some initial recovery of vision.
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.
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.
Don't lift heavy objects for the first two weeks after surgery. Strenuous activity (like lifting something) can increase your eye pressure levels. Elevated intraocular pressure is one of the most frequent complications for patients that have cataract surgery.
Physical Restrictions after Cataract Surgery
Strenuous exercise includes jogging, aerobics, weight lifting, football, running, cycling, tennis etc. Even yoga after cataract surgery is considered a strenuous exercise.
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.
If the patient chooses a monofocal lens, generally the dominant eye is selected to undergo surgery first. This provides the patient with good distance vision and fewer night vision disturbances, given that these patients prefer good distance vision over the ability to read without glasses.
Because of contaminants, no water should come in direct contact with the surgical eye until the wound has healed. Wait at least a day before taking a shower or washing the face. Be sure to avoid swimming pools or hot tubs for at least a few weeks per the surgeon's digression.