Hospital
Cataract Surgery
Also known as: Lens Implant, Vision Restoration
Recovery
- Day 1–3: Vision starts to clear up; mild dryness or light sensitivity.
- Week 1: Return to normal daily activities.
- Week 4–6: Eyes fully healed, vision is stabilized.
About Cataract Surgery
Treated areas:Eyes
Cataract surgery is a safe, life-changing procedure that replaces your eye’s cloudy natural lens with a clear artificial one (called an IOL). It is one of the most successful surgeries in the world, designed to fix blurry, “hazy” vision and bring back sharpness and bright colors.
Types of Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)
- Monofocal: Great for seeing clearly at a distance (you may still need reading glasses).
- Toric: Specifically designed to fix astigmatism as well as cataracts.
- Multifocal / EDOF: Designed to give you a full range of vision (near, far, and in-between), greatly reducing your need for glasses.
Ideal Candidate
Individuals aged 60+ with age-related cataracts affecting vision
- Vision feels like looking through a foggy window
- Lights look too bright or have “halos” around them
- Difficulty driving at night
- Colors look faded, yellowed, or dim
- Frequent changes in glasses prescription
Proven Results
- Sharper Vision: See details that have been missing for years.
- Brighter Colors: Colors will appear vivid and natural again.
- Better Night Vision: Reduced glare makes driving safer and easier.
- Independence: Most patients achieve between 20/20 and 20/40 vision after healing.
- Life-Long Solution: The artificial lens is permanent and does not “wear out.”
How It Is Performed
- Comprehensive eye examination and cataract assessment
- Optical biometry to determine optimal IOL power for target refraction
- Discussion of IOL options (monofocal, multifocal, toric, extended depth-of-focus)
- Informed consent and realistic expectation setting
- Patient positioning under operating microscope
- Dilating and numbing eye drops applied
- Small clear corneal incision (2.2-2.8 mm) created
- Capsulorhexis: opening of lens capsule front
- Phacoemulsification: ultrasonic probe breaks up cloudy lens
- Gentle aspiration removing lens fragments
- Polishing of lens capsule back
- Unfolded IOL insertion through incision
- IOL positioning in capsular bag
- Incision self-sealing or closure with micro-sutures
- Anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drops applied
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Your Timeline
Preparation
- Comprehensive pre-operative eye examination
- Corneal topography and biometry measurements
- Discussion and selection of IOL type
- Pre-operative bloodwork and medical clearance
- Discontinue blood-thinning medications per cardiologist guidance
- Avoid heavy lifting and eye rubbing for 1 week pre-op
- Arrange transportation (cannot drive immediately post-op)
Followup Care
- Protective eyeshield worn during sleep for first week
- Frequent prescribed eye drops (4-6 times daily) for first month, then tapering
- Avoid water on face for first 48 hours; shower carefully
- Avoid eye makeup for first week
- Avoid swimming and hot tubs for 2 weeks
- Avoid heavy lifting (>5-10 pounds) for first 2 weeks
- Avoid strenuous exercise for 2-3 weeks
- Sleep on back or non-operative side
- Avoid rubbing or pressing on eye
- Light activity resumable after 3-4 days; normal activity after 1-2 weeks
- Sunglasses recommended first 2 weeks (light sensitivity common)
- Follow-up appointments: 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Frequently Asked Questions
What IOL type should I choose?
Monofocal provides best distance vision; reading glasses needed for near. Multifocal provides distance and near vision with reduced glasses dependence but may cause glare/halos. Toric IOLs correct astigmatism. Extended depth-of-focus offers intermediate benefit. Discuss with surgeon based on lifestyle and vision priorities.
Will I still need glasses after cataract surgery?
This depends on IOL choice and pre-operative refractive error. Monofocal IOLs targeting distance vision require reading glasses. Premium IOLs reduce glasses need but may not eliminate it entirely.
How long do intraocular lenses last?
Modern IOLs are designed to last a lifetime. They do not deteriorate or require replacement in normal circumstances.
Can cataracts return after surgery?
The cloudy lens is completely removed; cataracts cannot recur. However, the lens capsule behind the IOL can become cloudy (posterior capsule opacification) in 10-20% of cases, treated with simple laser procedure (YAG capsulotomy).
Can I have LASIK after cataract surgery?
Yes, LASIK can be performed after cataract surgery to address residual refractive error or astigmatism. This is often planned in advance (targeting specific IOL power for cataract surgery, then LASIK fine-tuning).
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