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.
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.
Although physically there is no reason why you cannot have cataracts in both eyes treated at the same time, it is generally not recommended. This is because it can take a number of weeks for the eyes to heal. During this time, your vision will still be compromised.
After surgery, your eye may feel scratchy, sticky, or uncomfortable. It may also water more than usual. Most people see better 1 to 3 days after surgery. But it could take 3 to 10 weeks to get the full benefits of surgery and to see as clearly as possible.
Typically, within eight weeks, both eyes should have fully healed and your vision should be stable.
However, as we usually do the operation on one eye at a time, this means that your eyes will be out of balance with each other until after the operation on your second eye. This vision imbalance is called anisometropia.
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.
While each person heals differently, many patients report drastically better vision within the first 24 hours of the procedure. Plan on taking one to three days off of work to be sure you have enough time to rest, but it is normal to resume most normal activities within a couple of days.
If there is a cataract in each of your eyes, typically cataract surgery is performed on your non-dominant eye first followed by your dominant eye 1-2 weeks later. The time between the two cataract surgeries is in case infection or complications occur.
During early recovery, patients will be able to see, but not in clear, but rather, soft vision. Within 48 hours, many cataracts patients see significant improvement in their vision. It is possible that your vision could take one to two weeks to adjust and settle.
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.
The "big 3" potential problems that could permanently worsen vision after cataract/IOL surgery are: 1) infection, 2) an exaggerated inflammatory response, and 3) hemorrhage.
Some known risks of cataract surgery include infection, eye floaters, scar tissue formation, inflammation, lens dislocation, glare, halos, droopy eyelid, high eye pressure, retinal tear, or retinal detachment.
Patients who have undergone Cataract surgery in one eye will have clearer vision compared to the affected eye which increases the pressure on the treated eye. The increased pressure on a single eye can be stressful.
Depending on your vision, you may need to wear glasses for up-close activities, such as reading, after cataract surgery. This means you'll likely need to wear glasses regularly but not all the time. Cataract surgery is a very common and safe procedure that is used around the world.
Mature cataract.
This is the optimal point at which cataract surgery can be performed.
Several hours following the surgery, most patients are able to watch some television or look at a computer screen for a short period of time. It's important however that you don't over-exert your eyes during the first 24 hours post-surgery. You can expect to return to most normal activities during the first week.
As a general rule, the minimum time before you can drive is around 24 hours. However, this will depend on several factors. After your surgery, your eye doctor will usually get you to come back the following day to examine your eyes post-surgery. At that point, they will typically instruct you on further care.
Strenuous activity and exercise after cataract surgery
Most people can do very light exercise the day after surgery, including walking. For activities like biking, running, tennis, golf and sex, wait one week after your procedure.
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.
Nearly everyone who has cataract surgery will be given IOL s. These lenses improve your vision by focusing light on the back of your eye. You won't be able to see or feel the lens.
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.
The Safety of Cataract Surgery
However, in that 1-2 percent, there is still some risk when it comes to cataract surgery.