What to Expect When Recovering from Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery by board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Mark Arey is typically a brief, pain-free procedure performed in the outpatient surgery center requiring minimal sedation. At the end of the procedure a protective clear shield is placed over you eye for the remainder of the day and evening and a quick follow-up appointment is scheduled for the following morning.

How long does it usually take to recover from cataract surgery?

It’s expected that on the day of the surgery your eye will be a little red, the vision will be a little blurry, and the eye may feel a little scratchy… don’t worry, as all of this is normal! On the day following the procedure most patients can already tell the difference and are pleased with the early results, despite still needing a little more time to heal and achieve the final visual results. Very often the patient is eager and ready to schedule their other eye’s surgery with Dr. Arey at this initial post-operative visit.

Achieving the best outcome during recovery

Though you may notice that your vision is already improved on the day following surgery, instructions are given and precautions need to be followed in order to minimize the chances of a post-operative complication to your surgery. Dr. Arey typically prescribes a combination antibiotic & anti-inflammatory  eye drop is to be used on a tapering schedule over the two to three weeks following the procedure.

Specific limitations recommended include:

• Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity during the first two weeks.
• Avoid bending over immediately after the surgery. This prevents any extra pressure on the eye.
• Avoid swimming during the first two weeks after surgery. This helps reduce the risk of infection.
• Avoid exposure to dusty/ dirty environments during the first two weeks after surgery.
• Avoid eye rubbing following surgery.

Typical outcomes

Dr. Arey strives for nothing less than an excellent outcome for all of his surgical patients, the vast majority of which achieve a final vision without glasses in the range of 20/20 to 20/30 in the absence of other eye co-existing eye problems. With attention to detail throughout the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative periods, Dr. Arey is able to ensure that serious complication rates remain very low at less than one percent.

If you know or suspect that you may have cataracts and are excited at the chance to see better and improve your quality of life, please visit www.fmc2020.com to learn more about premium cataract surgery with Dr. Arey, and contact us today.