Cataract Surgery: What to Expect Before, During, and Afterwards

Cataracts (a clouding of the eye’s natural lens) are common as we age. However, aside from aging, diabetes, eye injuries, long-term exposure, and certain medications can raise your risk.

Regardless of the cause, the breakdown of proteins in the eyes significantly impacts vision, making it dim, blurry, or less colorful. Left untreated, cataracts only worsen, potentially leading to blindness.

If you or a loved one suffer from a cataract, it’s only natural to feel nervous about removing it. However, cataract surgery is a safe, outpatient procedure lasting between 15 and 30 minutes. To help you better understand what to expect from the surgery, we asked our expert, Dr. Scott Beeve at Beeve Vision Care Center, what happens before, during, and after removing your cataract.

Preparing for the surgery

Before surgery, Dr. Beeve performs an eye exam to measure the shape and size of your eye and he chooses the most suitable intraocular lens (IOL) for your vision needs. After removing the cataract, the lens allows you to see and get fit on your eye.

After the examination, you receive instructions regarding fasting, medication adjustments, and arranging a ride home after the procedure.

What happens during the surgery

Under local anesthesia and sedation, Dr. Beeve makes a tiny incision to break up the cloudy lens using ultrasound. Then, he removes the remains and inserts a clear artificial lens to restore your vision.

The surgery is outpatient, and you can go home, accompanied by someone, right after the procedure.

Recovery after a cataract surgery

Most patients see an improvement in their vision after a few days, but healing may take four to six weeks. We may recommend you use eye drops to prevent infections and inflammation. 

During this time, you get advised to avoid heavy lifting, rubbing your eyes, or getting water in your eyes for the first week.

What results you can expect to see

Vision after cataract surgery depends primarily on the intraocular lens type implanted.

For example, standard mono-focal lenses correct vision at one distance, usually far, but you still need reading glasses. However, if you want to correct vision and eliminate your dependence on glasses, premium lenses such as Tecnis Multifocal offer a more advanced solution.

Multifocal and accommodating lenses mimic the eye’s natural focusing ability, allowing you to see clearly across various distances and even in poor lighting. Want to get the best lenses for your eyes following a cataract surgery? 

Contact us to schedule an appointment at our Glendale, California, office for an eye examination to learn more.