Cataract Surgery Demystified-What to Expect Before, During, and After

If you have scheduled cataract surgery, it is because the cataract has progressed and has started to interfere with vision and overall quality of life. Rest assured that cataract surgery is quite common and regarded as one of the safest surgical procedures performed regularly. Nearly 4 million Americans undergo cataract surgery annually to restore vision. You may anticipate improved, clear and potentially perfect vision immediately following surgery, but Pennachio Eye will caution you to have realistic expectations as we demystify cataract surgery with details on what to expect before, during, and after the procedure. 

About a week before your scheduled cataract surgery, you will have an appointment with your doctor where some tests will be performed to measure the shape and size of the eye to be treated. These tests help determine which type of intraocular lens will suit you best. There are a variety of intraocular lens types based upon different visual needs, lifestyles and budget options. These include monofocal lenses, multifocal lenses, extended depth-of-focus lenses, accommodative lenses, toric lenses and light-adjustable lenses. Your doctor will also provide you with a preoperative list of dos and don’ts prior to surgery that include using special eye drops to protect against infection, a directive to stop using certain medications, cleaning the eyelids and eyelashes with a gentle cleaner or baby shampoo the night before surgery, and a reminder to not eat or drink several hours before surgery. If you are a contact lens-wearer you will be advised not to wear them for at least three days leading up to surgery. 

During cataract surgery, the surgeon will put numbing drops into the eye. With tiny tools an incision will be made into the eye to break apart the lens by a process called phacoemulsification. The natural lens will be removed and replaced with an artificial lens, the intraocular lens you and your doctor agreed upon at your previous appointment. The eye will be covered with an eye patch or eye shirls for protection. The cataract surgery itself only takes about 15 minutes but anticipate being at the surgeon’s office for a few hours from start to finish. You will then rest in a recovery area and will be able to go home, driven by a friend or family member as you cannot drive yourself, when the doctor has examined your vision. 

After surgery, while vision will likely be improved, generally patients do not see better until 1 to 3 days post-surgery. Your eye may feel scratchy, sticky or uncomfortable for a while. Red or bloodshot eyes are not uncommon as are watery eyes. The full recovery period for cataract surgery typically lasts around 8 weeks during which you will have several follow-up appointments with your surgeon to ensure the eye is healing properly. Most people are cleared to resume normal activities within a few days and can resume more strenuous activities like workout routines within a few weeks of surgery. 
To schedule cataract surgery, contact Pennachio Eye by 325-227-1999 or WEBSITE.

Our Locations

Clermont Office

14244 State Hwy 50
Clermont, FL 34711

Eustis Office

1100 S Grove St
Eustis, FL 32726

Surgery Center

640 S. Lake St Ste 101
Leesburg, FL 34748

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