Experiences after the cataract surgery are different for each person and they depend on a number of things. The recovery time shouldn’t be long and painful if your health status is good and if you don’t experience some other major eye difficulties. Experts believe that the chances of a successful recovery after the procedure are high and the majority of people should regain their vision fast.
Simple cataract procedures commonly take around 10 minutes and as soon as the surgery is over you will need to spend some time in the recovery room until the effects of anesthesia and sedatives wear off. In many cases this recover time immediately after the procedure takes between 30 minutes to an hour.
It is recommended to bring someone with you as an escort in order to drive you home after the surgery and remember to bring a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from glare and light. You will receive a protective shield for your eye and a medication prescription from your doctor as well as some instructions on how to behave for the next 24 hours.
You will probably get sleepy and tired as soon as you are done with the procedure so it is recommended that you take a nap for a couple of hours when you arrive home. Your doctor will tell you when it is appropriate to remove the protective shield because this often depends on the extent of the surgery. If you had an uncomplicated surgery you will probably be able to remove the bandages after just a few hours after the procedure.
Of course, remember to provide yourself with things like a band aid for your protective shield because it may easily fall off during naps.
The most common recovery time after the cataract surgery
Don’t get upset or concerned if your vision stays blurry after you remove the protective shield. The eye may need some time to adapt on the absence of the cataract and your intraocular lens needs to adjust and gain the roll of your natural lens.
A lot of patients report some vision distortions and other phenomenon during this adaptation time which commonly lasts for around an hour or so. Another thing you may encounter is some redness and bloodshot eyes due to some damage of your blood vessels during the procedure. After a few days you eyes will heal and the redness should disappear within a week.
Some people notice some brushings that resemble a black eye which is a normal thing if the doctor injected you with some anesthetics right below the eye. This shouldn’t worry you a lot because it will disappear within three days or so.
There are a lot of cases that report regaining a clear vision just a few hours after the procedure. The recovery time is relative and it depends from a person to a person. Some patients don’t see these results even a few weeks after the procedure and some reported vision sharpness after a few weeks.
The doctor will make an appointment for you right after the surgery in order to prevent any possible complications and infections. It is very important to follow the instructions and attend every examination recommended by your surgeon. If your blurred vision doesn’t improve for the next couple of days or if you experience some pain and discomfort you should call your surgeon immediately and ask for some instructions.
There are some cases when patients report dryness and discomfort after the cataract surgery. This feeling should fade away after a few days unless this is something you already experienced in the past. You should notice complete eye recovery after one month of following doctor’s strict instructions.
Achieving best results after the surgery
The majority of people get surprised on how fast they are able to return to their every days activities. The first week after the surgery you should pay attention to the strict rules that your doctor recommended. This way you will avoid any infections or any injuries while your eye heals and provide yourself with a proper cataract treatment. Your surgeon will typically provide you with antibiotics and eye drops to avoid any inflammations or to reduce any redness.
You will be more than satisfied if you carefully follow every rule and avoid driving, alcohol and tobacco. Also, avoid a heavy lifting and spending a lot of time in front of the computer screen or a television.
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