Recovering from Cataract Surgery

Though every doctor's instructions for post-operative care will vary somewhat, there are some basic things you can expect to happen.

After cataract surgery, your doctor will provide you with specific instructions to follow that will help you heal as quickly as possible. But here is an overview of how you might feel, things you should do, and things you should avoid, one week to one month after, two to four months after, and six months to one year after.

The Seek Treatment for Cataracts section contains information on what to expect immediately to 24 hours after cataract surgery.

All of this can be found formatted specifically for caregivers or downloaded in a condensed form in After Cataract Surgery (PDF, 37k).

The recovery process described here is meant to be representative of most cataract procedures, which occur without complications. Individual results may vary. No information contained here is intended to substitute for a physician's advice.