By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    bowl of vegetable salad
    Raw Foods: benefits and harms
    November 9, 2021
    pros and cons of the keto diet
    Read This Before You Follow the Keto Diet
    May 18, 2022
    spinal cord injuries
    4 Potential Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries (and How to Seek Compensation)
    May 25, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    4 Reasons Why Medical Device Compliance Matters
    May 22, 2020
    What To Know About The Importance Of Healthcare Marketing
    November 23, 2019
    healthcare courses
    6 Supplemental Courses in Healthcare to Support Your HR Degree
    August 20, 2021
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Your Helpful Guide To Recovering After Cataract Surgery
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Eye Care > Your Helpful Guide To Recovering After Cataract Surgery
Eye CareSpecialties

Your Helpful Guide To Recovering After Cataract Surgery

Rehan Ijaz
Last updated: March 31, 2020 6:54 pm
Rehan Ijaz
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

 

While cataract surgery may be tried-and-tested and relatively well-known in the UK, it’s not particularly common amongst people aged 40 or under.

In fact, 95% of cataracts in the UK are thought to be age-related, with symptoms tending to develop after 40 and as we continue to age and grow older. This is borne out by the numbers, with the expected rate of cataract surgery estimated at 530 per 1,000 (0.53%) for the overall population and 3,200 per 100,000 (3.2%) for the 65 and older age demographic.

If you do have to undergo this surgery, however, you’ll probably spend a great deal of time going through the pre-operative preparations with your consultant. In this post, we’ll discuss how cataract surgery works, what to expect after treatment and how to plan for the post-surgery recovery process.

More Read

Heart Disease Prevention
Fighting Heart Disease Using the Web: 3 Tips for Success
Does Your Doctor Know Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)?
Five Key Things You Should Know About Hearing Aids
What is Cosmetic Dentistry and Why You Should Go For it
New Proposed CMS Rule on Radiology Reimbursement Rates for 2015

How does cataract surgery work?

Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a custom made one. You will be put under local anaesthetic. A small incision will be made in the side of the eye under 2.8mm. The incision itself should heal naturally and not require any stiches or anything else. Phacoemulsification is the process that the cataract is removed. Ultrasonic waves are used to liquify the cloudy contents of the lens before a suction tube removes the rest. An Intraocular lens implant is then put in your eye. In total this surgery only takes 10 minutes, but you could see yourself being in the clinic for up to four hours, this is to allow time to discuss the full procedure and allow adequate preparation time as well as any questions you may have for your surgeon. After care recovery will need to be discussed also.

How Long Does Recovery Take and How Can You Prepare for a Successful Post-op Experience?

Relatively speaking, the recovery time for cataract surgery is short. With vision showing a significant improvement within 24 hours. More specifically, any soreness or discomfort should disappear within a couple of days of the operation, while your eyes should return to full functionality within a period of between four to six weeks. Its recommended that you should take between 3-5 days off work to recover and relax from this operation.

You can expedite this process by being proactive and adhering to the following post-surgery care instructions, which should be provided by your healthcare provider prior to the treatment.

1. Take Practical Steps to Minimise Your Post-Op Activities

It’s crucial that you minimise your workload in the immediate aftermath of the operation, and this process should start from the moment that you leave the hospital.

So, make sure that you designate transport after surgery, as even after your discharge you’ll still be sedated and your eye will be bandaged (limiting your vision).

Also, try to avoid any heavy lifting or bending for up to a week after surgery, particularly as any limited vision that you experience will impact on your balance and could make the recovery time that much longer. Also, it will be up to your optometrist to confirm when driving standards have been met and you can get behind the wheel again as your eye sight will need to meet the legal driving requirements.

2. Stay Out of Pools and Regulate Your Exercise for the First Week

When it comes to exercise, you’ll need to regulate your activity in the first seven days following the operation.

You should definitely avoid swimming pools during this time frame, as these entities remain a prominent breeding ground for disease and will increase the risk of your eye becoming infected while it recovers.

While you can resume light, indoor exercise within a few days of returning home, you should refrain from intense or strenuous physical activity for at least a week following surgery. The reason for this is two-fold, as it minimises the risk of incurring injury as a result of your impaired vision, while it’s known that some exercises have the potential to increase eye pressure and trigger potentially damaging complications.

High intensity exercise should definitely be avoided for at least one week after surgery, while you may want to consult with your GP before resuming such activities.

3. Listen to Your Doctor’s Instructions

The latter point is particularly important, as you should definitely follow the advice of your primary eye-care provider and GP in the aftermath of your cataract surgery.

While this information has been largely covered above, it’s imperative that you follow your doctor’s instructions closely and also ask any questions that you may have concerning your surgery.

Also, we’d recommend erring on the side of caution in the week or two following your cataract surgery, as this will allow sufficient time for your eye to heal and your vision to return to normal!

TAGGED:cataract surgerycataracts
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Dental health
May 21, 2025
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
Dental health
May 21, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025

You Might also Like

DiabetesHealth

How to Save Money on Diabetes Supplies

February 10, 2022
dental health connected to heart health
Dental healthSpecialties

Dental Trends To Keep Your Smile In Perfect Health

November 3, 2020
Checklist_for_Radiology
BusinessFinanceHospital AdministrationRadiology

The Essential Cheat Sheet on Radiology Billing

December 30, 2014

Assuring Safe Patient Health Information (PHI) in Radiology

August 14, 2014
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?