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Contact your eye surgery department as soon as possible if you experience: increased pain and/or redness; decreased vision; Dos and don'ts. For the first few weeks after surgery: Do: use your eye drops as instructed; take it easy for the first 2 to 3 days; use your eye shield at night for at least a week; take painkillers if you need to
- Cataract Surgery
The risk of serious complications developing as a result of...
- Cataract Surgery
- Overview
- Is it normal to have blurred vision after cataract surgery?
- What can cause ongoing blurred vision after cataract surgery?
- Recovery from cataract surgery
- When to see your doctor
- The bottom line
Blurred vision is normal for a few days after surgery. However, several factors may cause ongoing blurriness that could require medical treatment, such as retinal detachment.
A cataract is a cloudy area that forms in the lens of your eye. Cataracts can develop when proteins break down and clump together in your eye’s lens. Cataracts can eventually cause blurred vision and make it harder to see properly.
Cataract surgery is a common outpatient procedure that involves removing the lens of your eye and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL), which functions just as your natural lens does.
According to the American Optometric Association, approximately 90 percent of patients report having better vision after having cataract surgery.
After cataract surgery, it’s normal for your vision to be blurry at first as your eye recovers. The blurred vision will typically go away within a few days.
Although cataract surgery is generally a safe procedure, there is, as with any surgical procedure, the risk of complications. These complications may increase the risk of ongoing blurry vision.
Yes, blurred vision is normal after cataract surgery. It takes time for your eyes to heal and to adjust to the new lens that has been implanted.
Not everyone will recover from cataract surgery at the same pace. Some people may have clear vision within a day after having cataract surgery. But for other people it may take several days for blurred vision to go away.
Inflammation
Inflammation is actually a healthy immune system response to the surgical removal of your eye lens. However, it can temporarily affect your vision and cause discomfort. Inflammation should resolve with medication as your eye heals. You can expect an improvement in your vision within a few days of surgery. Doctors prescribe medication after surgery to help the healing process. Contact your doctor if the inflammation continues to worsen following your surgery.
Dry eyes
Dry eyes can be a common problem after cataract surgery. Having dry eyes can cause blurred vision. According to a 2019 study, cataract surgery can increase the risk of dry eyes due to: •longer-term use of antibiotic-steroid eye drops before and after surgery •the disruption of the tear film in the eye during surgery •decreased production of lubricants and tears in the eye due to the surgical incision This same study found that around 64 percent of the study participants experienced mild dry eyes after cataract surgery. However, some types of cataract surgery had a higher incidence of dry eyes than others. One of the best ways to alleviate dry eye symptoms is to use over-the-counter (OTC) artificial tears. These are eye drops that help lubricate your eyes. When your eyes are lubricated, it can help alleviate blurred vision. If you use artificial tears more than 6 times a day, or if you’re allergic to preservatives, use preservative-free eye drops instead. Talk to your ophthalmologist if your dry eye symptoms don’t clear up, or if they get worse.
Posterior capsular opacification
Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is also known as a “secondary cataract,” although it’s not actually a cataract. Instead, it’s an opaque film that can grow over the membrane that holds your new lens in place. This film can cause your vision to become blurry or cloudy, much like the symptoms you experienced when you had cataracts. PCO is fairly common after cataract surgery, and is thought to affect about 20 percent of patients. The treatment for PCO involves a quick, painless procedure called YAG laser capsulotomy. It can be done at your ophthalmologist’s office and typically only takes about 5 minutes. This laser procedure is typically covered by insurance and Medicare.
Although your vision might be blurry immediately after surgery, it should start to improve within a few days. You might also notice that colors appear brighter, since cataracts tend to cause colors to look duller.
It can take several months to heal fully, but you can speed up the healing process by following your doctor’s instructions. This includes:
•wearing a protective eye shield at night for at least a week after surgery
•using eyedrops and/or taking other medications as prescribed
•avoiding strenuous activity for a couple of weeks after surgery
•not bending over at your waist for at least a week
Don’t hesitate to contact your doctor or ophthalmologist if you have concerns. While complications of cataract surgery are usually rare, some can be serious.
Seek medical attention if you experience:
•a sudden decrease or loss of vision
•sudden flashes of light in your eye
•eye discharge
•pain that isn’t relieved by over-the-counter painkillers
Cataract surgery is generally a safe procedure with a high success rate. The vast majority of patients experience improved vision after having cataract surgery.
Blurred vision is normal in the days immediately following cataract surgery. Your vision should improve as your eyes heal. This timeframe can vary depending on the type of cataract surgery, your overall health, age, and whether you have other eye conditions.
- Blurry vision. It is very common to have blurry or unclear vision in the days and sometimes even weeks after cataract removal. Most of the time, this is caused by normal swelling in the eye which occurs as a part of surgery.
- Dry eye. After cataract surgery, almost all patients experience some level of dryness in the eye. A small number of nerves on the surface of your eye get cut when your surgeon makes the incisions necessary to reach your lens.
- Discomfort/feeling that something is in the eye. Many people complain that they feel like there is sand in the eye or that the eye feels scratchy after surgery.
- Posterior capsule opacity (PCO) Sometimes blurry vision is caused by PCO, a fairly common complication that can occur weeks, months or (more frequently) years after cataract surgery.
May 16, 2024 · Key Takeaways. Cataract surgery is a common procedure to remove cloudy lenses from the eyes. Blurred vision after cataract surgery is normal and can last for a few days to a few weeks. Factors that affect blurred vision after cataract surgery include age, health conditions, and surgical technique.
Oct 5, 2024 · Post-cataract surgery blurriness typically lasts for a few days to a few weeks, but in some cases, it may persist for several months. Tips for managing post-cataract surgery blurriness include using prescribed eye drops, avoiding strenuous activities, and protecting the eyes from bright lights.
The risk of serious complications developing as a result of cataract surgery is estimated at around 1 in 50 cases. These can include: blurred vision; some loss of vision; detached retina – where the the thin layer at the back of your eye (retina) becomes loose; Most of these serious complications can be treated with medicines or further surgery.
Recovery Tracker — Royal College of Surgeons. Get Well Soon. Helping you to make a speedy recovery after cataract surgery. When can I have sex? For many people, being able to have sex again is an important milestone in their recovery. There are no set rules or times about when it’s safe to do so other than whether it feels OK to you. Patient care.
Restore Vision Clinic's Optic Nerve Therapy is a Safe Alternative to Surgery. Restore Vision Clinic specializes in Fedorov Restoration Therapy.
